Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) is a freshwater species with an adult-size reference of about 7.5 cm. It needs at least 75 litres and 8 individuals, with its social and territorial profile taken into account.
Temperatura da água
22 - 26 °C
Valor de pH
6 - 7.5
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Meio
Tamanho adulto
7,5 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 75 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 8
GH
3 - 15 dGH
KH
1 - 7 dKH
TDS
55 - 295 ppm
Condutividade
86 - 461 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Taxonomy and Morphology: The accepted scientific name is Gymnocorymbus ternetzi; the verified classification records genus Gymnocorymbus, family Acestrorhamphidae, subfamily Pristellinae, order Characiformes. Historical names remain searchable as synonyms rather than separate species.
Social Behavior: Black Skirt Tetra is gregarious and should be kept in a school. The minimum reference is 8 individuals; sex, maturity and available space can require a more conservative composition. Observe access to food, resting behaviour, chasing and use of shelter. Isolation, persistent competition or aggression means the number, composition or environment needs to be corrected.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Colour and shape can vary with age, sex, physiological state and environmental conditions. Identification and sexing require recognized species-level characters; one appearance or photograph is not enough.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup: Black Skirt Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres, sized for adult body size and a minimum group of 8 individuals. Filtration, shelter and swimming room must match the species and the actual number kept. Volume alone does not make an enclosure suitable: tank shape and length, usable area, oxygenation and the ability to separate territories must reflect adult behaviour.
Diet and Feeding: The recorded diet is omnivorous. Offer appropriately sized foods varied within that category, and adjust quantity and frequency from actual intake, body condition and leftovers. One food or a fixed schedule is not suitable for every age and situation.
Water Quality: Maintain stable, well-oxygenated water appropriate to a freshwater species; the card's reference values are 22–26 °C, pH 6–7.5. Verify conditions with reliable tests and size maintenance and filtration to the actual load. Ranges are not automatic thresholds for treatment or rapid chemical correction.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: The cohabitation profile is a species to combine with caution, with a generally active temperament. Keep at least 8 individuals; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
Aquarium Breeding: The recorded reproductive profile is “oviparity”. Breeding should be attempted only with healthy adults, separation capacity and a plan for eggs or young. Do not treat unverified triggers, sex ratios or hatch times as universal for this species.
Risks and Diseases: Prevent problems through quarantine of new arrivals, stable water, appropriate feeding and daily observation. Similar signs can have different causes, so check parameters, history and diagnosis before medication. Follow the product label and qualified aquatic-veterinary advice; there is no universal reduced dose for a species or family.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Origem
Extra-Amazônica América do Sul
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Active
- Black Skirt Tetra has a generally active temperament. Insufficient space, an unsuitable social ratio or incompatible tankmates can substantially change observed behaviour.
- Dieta
- Omnivore
- In their natural habitat, they are omnivores, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates, crustaceans, and plant matter. In captivity, they are unfussy eaters and will readily accept a staple diet of high-quality flake or pellet food. To ensure optimal health and vibrant coloration, their diet should be supplemented with live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. They also benefit from occasional vegetable matter, which can be provided through specialized herbivore flakes or blanched vegetables.
- Expectativa de vida
- 3-5 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 7.5 cm
- Proporção sexual
- School
- Black Skirt Tetra is gregarious and should be kept in a school. The reference minimum is 8 individuals and must not be read as permission to overcrowd the aquarium.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- Adult Black Skirt Tetras should typically be fed once or twice a day with small portions. It is crucial to only provide an amount of food they can completely consume within two to three minutes to prevent overfeeding. If you notice uneaten food settling on the substrate, you are likely feeding them too much. Fasting them for one day a week can also help clear their digestive tract and maintain water quality.
- Carga biológica
- Low to Medium
- Gymnocorymbus ternetzi produces a relatively moderate bioload for a tetra, especially considering their slightly larger and deeper body shape compared to neon tetras. While they are not overly messy, maintaining a group can collectively add significant waste to the aquarium. Therefore, adequate filtration and regular water changes are necessary to keep nitrate levels in check. A well-established nitrogen cycle is essential to handle their output effectively.
- Fluxo
- Strong
- Coming from the slow-moving rivers, streams, and tributaries of South America, they prefer a gentle to moderate water flow. While they can swim quite actively, strong currents can exhaust them and cause unnecessary stress over time. Providing areas of still water, perhaps buffered by driftwood or dense planting, allows them to rest comfortably. Sponge filters or canister filters with a spray bar attachment are excellent choices to distribute the flow evenly.
- Risco de salto
- No
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- They are egg-scatterers that provide no parental care and will readily consume their own eggs if given the chance. To successfully breed them, a separate breeding tank with very soft, slightly acidic water and dim lighting is required. The breeding tank should be equipped with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop to catch the adhesive eggs. Once spawning has occurred, the adult fish must be immediately removed to protect the eggs, which typically hatch within 24 to 36 hours.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- With caution
- The cohabitation profile is a species to combine with caution, with a generally active temperament. Keep at least 8 individuals; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
- Nível do tanque
- Middle
- Black Skirt Tetras are primarily mid-water to top-water swimmers that utilize the open swimming spaces of the aquarium. They are very active and will frequently dart around the middle sections while looking for food or interacting with each other. Providing tall plants around the perimeter of the tank allows them plenty of unobstructed horizontal swimming room in the center. They will occasionally venture to the bottom to scavenge for dropped food, but spend the vast majority of their time higher up.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3,1 ± 0,32 se
- Resiliência
- Alta (menos de 15 meses)
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5625
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.01995, b = 2.97
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
Galeria de imagens
Imagens licenciadas vinculadas à espécie ou, quando marcadas, ao táxon representativo mais próximo.
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