Black tetra

Black tetra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Genus: Gymnocorymbus
Species: G. ternetzi
Binomial name
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
(Boulenger, 1895)

The black tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) also known as the black skirt tetra, petticoat tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra, and black widow tetra, is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae). It is native to the Paraguay and Guaporé River basins of southern Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia.

Growing to about 6 cm (2.4 in) total length, the black tetra has a roughly tetragonal body shape and is greyish in colour, fading from near black at the tail to light at the nose. Two prominent, black, vertical bars appear just posterior to the gills. It is a schooling fish, and requires at least six in a group.

The black widow tetra feeds on small crustaceans, insects, and worms.

In the aquarium

Group of tetras in a home aquarium

The black skirt tetra is a common fish that is widely available for purchase.

Hobbyists often provide live foods such as daphnia and mosquito larvae, and frozen foods like bloodworms.

In a home aquarium

The species reaches sexual maturity at about two years of age. Like most characins, this species spawns by intermittently releasing and fertilizing eggs among plants. It frequently eats its own eggs, so keepers remove the fish after spawning.

The Black Skirt Tetra was also used to make genetically modified fish sold as GloFish (fluorescent colored fish).

Similar names

The black phantom tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) is a separate species. The black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) is sometimes also called the black tetras.

Genetic modification

GloFish black tetras in shades of bright green, orange, purple, and pink are available.

See also

References

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