Black Skirt Tetra


black skirt tetra

Black skirt tetras (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) are also known as black tetras or black widow tetras. They belong to the family Characidae.

Black skirt tetras reach an adult size of about 2.5 inches (6.35 cm). They are peaceful, shoaling fish like the other tetra species. You can keep them in a community tank as long as the other inhabitants aren't aggressive. Be sure to keep at least 4, and preferably 6, black skirt tetras together in your tank.

Black skirt tetras are from South America. Like most of the other fish that originate from South America, they do best in soft, slightly acidic water. You can filter your water through peat or you can purchase water softeners, such as Tetra's black water extract. This extract helps to approximate the water in your aquarium to that of the Amazon River.

Their water temperature should be between 70-80 °F (21-27 °C).

You should also have plants in your tank. In fact, most fish feel more comfortable in a heavily planted tank. Black skirt tetras usually occupy the middle layers of the aquarium.

Black skirt tetras are mostly carnivores, but will eat both plant and meat-based foods. They readily accept most standard aquarium fare.

They are egglaying fish that scatter their eggs. Males and females look similar, but when the females are filled with eggs their bodies may be a little more round than the males. After spawning, the adult fish should be removed because they will eat the eggs.

The eggs hatch in about 24 hours. Like all tetra fry, black skirt fry are very tiny. When they are free swimming they can be fed commercial liquid fry food, infusoria, or rotifers. When they get a little older, supplement thier diet with powdered fry food and newly hatched brine shrimp.