Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Peaceful

This tetra is peaceful, highly active, and very hardy, making it an excellent beginner fish. They must be kept in groups of at least six, though they display their best behaviors in schools of ten or more. When solitary, they become highly stressed, faded in color, and reclusive.

Diet

Omnivore

Featherfin Tetras are unfussy omnivores that accept almost all standard aquarium foods. A staple diet of high-quality flakes or micro-pellets forms a good nutritional foundation. Providing occasional treats of live or frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms will heavily boost their vitality.

Sex ratio

School

There are no strict sex ratio requirements for this peaceful schooling species. Males may exhibit mild territorial displays to establish dominance, but these are harmless. A larger school naturally diffuses any focused aggression and promotes a healthy social dynamic.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

They thrive when fed small portions two to three times a day. Only provide an amount they can vigorously consume within a couple of minutes. Ensuring they eat everything prevents substrate fouling and maintains an optimal aquarium environment.

Bioload

The Featherfin Tetra is a robust but small fish that contributes a moderately low bioload to the aquarium. Standard filtration systems paired with a regular water change schedule easily handle a large school. Poor water conditions can dull their colors, making clean water a priority.

Flow

Strong

Unlike some of its relatives, the Featherfin Tetra is quite adaptable to varying water flows, tolerating moderate currents well. However, they still prefer areas with gentle circulation where they can rest without expending excess energy. Filter outflows should be positioned to allow for calm zones within the tank.

Jump risk

Yes

These fish exhibit a moderate jumping risk when feeling stressed or suddenly startled. An aquarium with a securely fitting lid is necessary to prevent them from leaping out. Adequate hiding spaces and floating plants help alleviate stress and reduce erratic jumping.

Reproduction

Egg scatterer

Breeding follows the typical egg-scattering behavior seen in most tetras, without any parental protection. To successfully raise fry, a separate bare-bottom tank with spawning mops and dim lighting is required. The adults must be extracted quickly after spawning to protect the eggs from predation.

Compatibility & tankmates

Peaceful

They are peaceful, community-friendly fish that do well with a wide variety of similarly sized tank mates. Good choices include other peaceful tetras, smaller barbs, danios, and peaceful dwarf cichlids. Naturally, keeping them with aggressive or large predatory fish is not advised.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

They are energetic mid-water swimmers that utilize the open spaces of the aquarium. They can often be seen darting between plants and open water, rarely resting on the bottom. Providing ample horizontal swimming space caters perfectly to their active nature.