Black Skirt Tetra

The black skirt tetra is recognized by the two vertical black bars on its silvery front body and the black "skirt" (broad anal fin) that darkens toward the rear. It is very hardy and adapts to a wide range of water parameters, which makes it one of the tetras suitable for beginners. Besides long-finned and albino forms, artificially dyed fish ("colored tetras") are also sold; dyed fish should be avoided.

It lives in slow-flowing, vegetated and shaded river tributaries in central South America.

• Volume: at least 60 liters for a school of 6–8.
• Water: 22–25°C; adapts to a wide range of pH and hardness.
• Setup: Planted edges, open space in the middle water layer.

Omnivorous with a good appetite. Flakes and granules, frozen and live foods (brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia), and occasionally plant-based food.

Generally trouble-free, but it has a tendency to nip fins; especially when kept in small numbers or when bored, it harasses slow, long-finned fish.

Good companions: platies, mollies, zebra danios, other tetras, corydoras, bristlenose plecos.

Avoid: species with long, flowing fins such as bettas, guppies, angelfish and dwarf gouramis.

At least 6, ideally 8 or more individuals. In a large group, black skirt tetras spend their energy chasing each other and pay less attention to other fish. The sex ratio does not matter.

Breeds easily. It scatters its eggs over fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop; the parents must be separated because they eat the eggs. The eggs hatch in 1–2 days.

Hardy. White spot and fin rot can occur in poor water conditions. As it ages, the black color fades to gray; this is normal.

Females are plumper and larger; males have slightly more pointed and longer dorsal and anal fins, and white dots may be visible on the anal fin.