Black skirt tetra care

Water temperature

70–80°F

Keep black skirt tetras at 70–80°F with a pH of 6–7.5, in a tank of at least 15 gallons. Good tank mates include corydoras, paradise fish, mystery snails.

Nips long fins, more so in small groups.

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

pH

6–7.5

Minimum tank

15 gal

Adult size

2.5 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Groups of 6+

Lifespan

3–5 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• CorydorasYes
• Paradise fishYes
• Mystery snailYes
• Sparkling gouramiYes
• Bolivian ramYes
• OtocinclusYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Panda coryYes
• Pictus catfishYes
• Tiger barbYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Upside down catfishYes

Full black skirt tetra tank mate chart: 59 yes, 24 with care, 15 no

Black skirt tetra water compared

Fish to keep away from black skirt tetras

• Betta Black skirt tetras nip fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black skirt tetras need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.
• Guppy Black skirt tetras nip fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
• Angelfish Black skirt tetras nip fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches black skirt tetras do.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches black skirt tetras do.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches black skirt tetras do.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and much bigger than black skirt tetras.

More tetras and characins

• Neon tetra72–79°F
• Ember tetra73–84°F
• Congo tetra73–82°F
• Rummy nose tetra75–84°F
• Cardinal tetra76–84°F
• Serpae tetra72–79°F
• Silver dollar75–82°F
• Glowlight tetra74–80°F