Premium Pet Fish are more energetic, hardier, and have brighter colors with a beautiful metallic sheen.

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More Comments: Look closely at the corners of the mouth in the picture above. Or first click on the picture then look at the corners of the mouth.

You should be able to see an almost transparent membrane in the corners of this fish's mouth. Perhaps this membrane functions to keep bits of food from slipping out of the fish's mouth.

Also ... you can see this fish's white teeth, scale pattern, and nice pattern of dark markings. All fish have a lot to see.

Origin: This fish's ancestors lived in the Amazon Rainforest in southern South America, but this fish was spawned and raised on a famous fish farm, and these Tetras now live in many aquariums throughout most of the world.

Maximum Size: This fish can grow to be about 2.5" long including the tail.

Behaviors: These guys are active and quarrel with each other but don't do much harm.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include small fish like Guppies, Platys, Corydoras Catfish, Gouramis, etc.

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Temperature: They can live pretty well from about 68 to 80 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 75 to 78 degrees F.

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Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes.

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Water Conditions: This fish seems to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of about 7 with moderate hardness is best.

Most water in the US seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8.

We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 20-gallon tank, but more is better, because they quarrel with each other.

Keep at most one fish per gallon, when they're small, and one fish for each 2-gallons, when they're large.

Decor: They don't need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

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Live Plants are beautiful, improve the water quality, and are enjoyed by these Tetras.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. A Penguin 200B Filter in an aquarium with 20 to 30-gallons of water is just right for these fish.

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The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: They'll probably live for a few years with good water and good food.

Gender: The females fill with eggs and become plumper, as they mature.

Breeding: Tetras scatter their eggs on plants or special breeding mops made of nylon yarn.

Popularity: This is a long time favorite and is still very popular.

Names: The scientific name is Gymnocorymbus ternetzi, and this fish is sometimes called a Black Widow, but we don't hear that name much anymore.

Variations: There is a long-finned variety and an albino variety.

Skirt Tetras have been modified genetically to produce Glofish, which are sold elsewhere on this site.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 06/23/2015