Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra
gymnocorymbus ternetzi

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a common aquarium fish and its price remains pretty consistently between $2-4.

Short Bio:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a fish that is very hardy and will be able to tolerate many different types of water conditions. When younger the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra has black bands and like to school. As it ages the black fades to a washed-out gray, and it prefers to have its own space and no longer likes to school. The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a very peaceful fish that will get along with almost all types of fish, but it will nip at long finned tankmates such as the guppy and the Betta a.k.a Siamese fight fish.

Origin:
South America in Paraguay and Guapore River Basins in the varied river environments.

Sexual Distinctions:
To tell the different sexes with the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra you must look at the dorsal and anal fins. The males will have a pointed and narrow dorsal fin and a broader anal fin then the females.

Tank Conditions:
A community tank with no fancy tailed/finned fish. It will nip the fins and tails.
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra requires a minimum tank size of 24 x 12 x 12 inches (60 x 30 x 30 cm).

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The temperature should be in the range of 68-79 degrees Fahrenheit (20-26 Celsius). The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra originates from soft-water areas and so prefers medium to soft, acidic water. Although it prefers this type of water it will however, adapt to, and live quite happily in harder water. To bring out the best of the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra have a darker substrate and shaded areas. The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra also likes areas that are planted with either real of fake vegetation. Even though at a younger age the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will school tightly together and as it ages will prefer to have its own space but no matter the age you should house about four Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra together in any one tank. Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will stay in the middle to upper part of the tank.

Food:
In the wild the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra eats small aquatic animals, seeds, and insect, and being omnivorous and opportunistic feed the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra a variety of floating and sinking foods in the fish tank.

Behavior:
Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a peaceful fish that will school in groups with the males sparing every now and then but this is still normal behavior.

Breeding:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will breed in the aquarium. It just needs soft, acidic water with tannins from bogwood and or with blackwater which will all help to encourage breeding.

Bleeding Heart Tetra
hyphessobrycon rubrostigma

It belongs to the family Characidae

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost: $4-7

Origin:
Columbia

Description:
Deep bodied, has a shape similar to say, a lemon tetra. Gets up to 2 ¼ inches (6 cm).

Color:
Looks transparent, the dorsal fin is black with a white tip.

Sexual distinctions:

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Females bulkier and the males have a larger, more elongated dorsal fin.

Tank conditions:
Temperature 77 degrees (25 Celsius). Ph and hardness, no specific levels determined. Needs plenty of swimming space, lots of vegetation and pretty good lighting.

Food:
Different types of live food, every now and then a high quality dried food.

Behavior:
Lively and a good swimmer.

Breeding:
Seldom will breed.

Compatibility:
Does very well in a community tank, peaceable schooling fish.

Black Neon Tetra
hyphessobrycon scholzei

It belongs to the family Characidae

For more information on Characins click here.

Origin:
South America: Paraguay River Basin. Most are now captive-bred.

Description:
Very elongated, but is still only about 2 inches (5cm) long.

Color:
It’s back is a greenish or sometimes brownish color. It has silver sides, with a blue to brassy sheen, and has a silver belly. A thick black band runs from the gill cover to the back of the base of the caudal fin, which it then forms a large diamond shape patch. On top of the black band there is a thin gleaming metallic line. It has colorless pelvic fins, but all it’s other fins are pale reddish with the anal fin edged with black at the front.

Sexual distinctions:

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The males are slimmer then the females and more deeply cleft caudal fins.

Tank conditions:
Temperature 75-81 degrees Fahrenheit (24-27 Celsius) For the proper Ph and hardness ratings use old water, not too hard with a Ph of slightly hard to acid. For the most part a very easy species to care for.

Food:
Live, high quality dried food, and some form of vegetable flake. (spirulina is good)

Behavior:
Schooling type, it’s lively and does well in a community tank.

Cardinal Tetra
cheirodon axelrodi

It belongs to the family Characidae

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost: $4-15

Origin:
Tributaries of the Rio Negro and the Orinoco

Description:
Long and thin. Smaller fish, getting to only about 1 ½ inches (4cm)

Color:
Magnificent red lateral stripe that begins at the front of the snout and reaching back to the base of the tail fin, extends over the belly and throat. Luminous blue lateral stripe. And on the top by the dorsal fin, just a sliver of gray.

Sexual distinction:

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The female will have a fuller looking belly and will be slightly bigger than the male.

Tank conditions:
Temperature 73-75 degrees Fahrenheit (23-24 Celsius). A Ph rating of 5.5-6.5 would be best when accompanied with medium lighting, plenty of free space for swimming, a background picture of mixed water plants that are light and dark and a black tank bottom.

Food:
Omnivorous, small live food such as fruit flies.

Behavior:
Very lively and active schooling fish.

Breeding:
Difficult to breed in captivity, but the temperature should be raised to 79-82 degrees Fahrenheit (26-28 Celsius). The adults should be removed after the eggs have been laid. Water should be slightly acidic for the breeding period.

Compatibility:
Gets along well in a community tank. Can be mixed with other species of similar habits.