Scientific Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Common Name: Black Tetra, Black Widow Tetra, Blackskirt Tetra
Adult Size: 2.2 inches
Life Expectancy: 6 - 7 years
Habitat: South America
Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 70 - 79° F
- pH Range: 5.8 - 8.5
- Water Hardness: 3 – 30
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Omnivore, in the wild they feed primarily on worms, small crustaceans, and insects but in the aquarium they will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.
Breeding & Spawning: The breeding pair should be isolated in a separate tank with floating or other fine leaved plants where the female will distribute her eggs, and a seeded sponge filter to provide aeration and water circulation. Immediately after spawning, the parents should be removed from the tank. The eggs hatch in 24 hours and about five days after hatching, the fry should be free swimming and can be fed infusoria or finely crushed flake food.
Gender: The male’s dorsal fin is more narrowed and pointed than the female’s. Also, the male’s frontal portion of the “skirt” or anal fin is noticeably broad while the female’s “skirt” tends to run parallel to the stomach line. A mature female is also plumper.
