Black Skirt Tetra Care Guide
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi · Easy care · 20 gallon minimum
A hardy, hexagon-bodied tetra with flowing black fins; can nip long fins so skip slow tankmates.
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How big does a black skirt tetra get?
A black skirt tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) reaches about 2.5 inches as an adult. Plan tank size and tank mates around the adult size, not the small fish you buy at the store.
Tank size & setup
Give a black skirt tetra a minimum of 20 gallons, with water at 70–82°F and a pH of 6–7.5. Keep them in groups of at least 6 — they are shoaling fish and become stressed and washed-out alone. As a easy-care, omnivore species, a stable, cycled tank with the right diet keeps them healthiest.
Good tank mates
Pair a black skirt tetra with peaceful species that share its temperature and pH range. Compatible options include:
- Neon Tetra — 1.5", 10g min
- Guppy — 2.0", 10g min
- Molly — 4.0", 20g min
- Platy — 2.5", 10g min
- Zebra Danio — 2.0", 10g min
About the black skirt tetra
The black tetra, also known as the petticoat tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra, black skirt tetra, black widow tetra and blackamoor, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American characins.
Recommended gear for black skirt tetras
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