Best kept as a shoal in a well-maintained aquarium
Overview
Synonyms
None
Distribution
Heavily vegetated and slow-moving areas of the Upper Amazon River basin in Peru and Araguaia River in Brazil. The majority of specimens offered for sale in the aquatics trade are captive-bred.
Maximum Size
6cm (2.4")
Temperature
22-28°C
Water Parameters
Captive-raised specimens will acclimatise to a wide range of conditions. pH: 6-8, dH: up to 20 degrees.
Compatibility
Community with no long-finned fish
Lighting
Medium
Sexual Dimorphism
Mature females are fuller-bodied.
Feeding
Flake, granules and frozen foods
Description
Care
Penguin Tetras are a shoaling species that should be maintained in groups of 6 or more. Can be slightly nippy, so long-finned tankmates are best avoided. The tank should be well planted and have a cover of floating plants to help diffuse the lighting. Very sensitive to elevated nitrate levels, so excellent water quality is a must.
Feeding
Flake, micropellets, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp and daphnia.
Breeding
A separate softwater breeding aquarium should be set up with plenty of fine-leaved plants. Spawning takes place in darkened conditions, where as many as 1000 eggs are laid. The parents should be removed once the female is exhausted of eggs, and these will hatch within 24 hours. The fry are tiny and should be offered infusoria as a first food. (It is worth noting that many breeders of this species recommend carrying out a partial water change when spawning is over, due to the large amounts of milt expelled by the male, which could foul the water of the breeding tank).
Where can I buy these aquarium fish?
If you like this species and would like to find out more, we have an enormous range of aquarium fish and invertebrates available to buy in all of our stores across the UK (including freshwater tropical and marine fish).
However, please note that this species may not be available in your chosen store, even if the store specialises in this particular species. This is due to seasonality and stock availability from store-to-store. Please check with your local store about availability of specific species to purchase before making a journey.
For delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed on or before 3pm on Wednesday 20th December. We cannot guarantee delivery of these orders pre-Christmas as we are reliant on our couriers, but will use our best endeavours to get orders placed on this date out to you before Christmas. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
Please note: online orders placed after 3pm on Friday 22nd December will not be dispatched until the New Year. For full details of our festive delivery and opening times click here
