- Another fantastic tetra for the tropical aquarium is the impressive Black Phantom Tetra. They are light grey in coloring, with a black patch, surrounded by iridescent silver edging, posterior of the gills on each side. The male’s fins are black, as is the female’s dorsal fin; however the female’s pelvic, anal, and adipose fins are reddish in color.
Common Name(s) : Black Phantom tetra
Family : Characidae
Genus: Hyphessobrycon
Species : Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
Origin : South America – Brazil & Bolivia
PH : 6.0 – 7.5
Hardness : Soft to Moderately Hard
Temperature : 23 – 28°C / 73–82°F
Maximum Size : 4.5 cm / 1.75″
Lifespan : 5 years
Aggression Level : Very Low (1/10)
Recommended Tank Size : 30 Litres +
Strata : Bottom Half
TANK SET UP
Prefer a planted tank. Add some driftwood plants to help create their natural environment.
SUITABLE TANK MATES
- Most Large / Medium Tropical Fish
- Dwarf Cichlids
DIET
Omnivores, in the wild they eat very small invertebrates and plants. In the aquarium they will accept a wide range of foods including flake, small pellets, bloodworms and brine shrimp.
SEXING AND BREEDING
Sexing Black Phantom Tetras is very easy. The female Black Phantom Tetra has a deeper body, red coloured adipose, pectoral, and anal fins.
The male has a silvery colouration with some black fins. The male also features a larger dorsal fin.
To breed them, condition a male and female for several weeks then separate into a separate bare glass bottom tank. Drop the hardness of the water to 4dGH and the PH to 5.5. Keep lighting to a minimum (promotes fungal growth in the eggs) and add some floating plants. They will scatter eggs within days, and once you have spotted the tiny little eggs, remove the parents and add them back into the community tank once again.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
Originating in Bolivia and Brazil, they are found in rivers and streams featuring dense planted areas of weed. For this reason it is recommended you replicate a similar setup for your aquarium.
Like all tetras, we also recommend you keep them in a school of 6 or more. They will however school up with other tetras of similar size and shape.
Black Phantom Tetras survive a wide range of water parameters .. the water PH can be anywhere between 6 and 7.5 and the temperature between 22°C and 28°C.
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