Care
Black Widow Tetras should be kept in shoals of 6 or more fish. They are a peaceful species, although they may bicker amongst themselves from time to time, and larger groups will help to reduce this. However, they should not bother other species in the same aquarium. These fish will feel most at home in a planted tank incorporating floating plants to provide them with shady areas.
May also be seen referred to by the American common name Black Skirt Tetra. A gold form of this species is also available under the names Gold Widow Tetra or White Widow Tetra. Beware of dyed specimens, which typically carry distinct lines of injected flourescent pigment unlike the transgenic Glofish - which are genetically engineered and derive their glow from jellyfish genes. As transgenic organisms, Glofish are banned from import into the UK, making it a very easy decision to avoid any unnaturally colourful widow tetras.
Feeding
For optimal health, provide a good variety of foods including flake, micropellets, and frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp, daphnia etc.
Breeding
A conditioned pair of fish should be added to a breeding aquarium that has been set up with soft, acidic water and fine-leaved plants. The eggs will be scattered amongst the plant leaves and the parents should be removed as soon as spawning had ceased in order to prevent predation on the eggs. These eggs will hatch after 24 hours and the fry should be fed on baby brineshrimp and egglayer first foods.
