Black Phantom Tetra

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 2"
• Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-82° F, KH 4-8, pH 6.0-7.5
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Brazil   • Family: Characidae
• Species: Tetras   • Aquarium Type: Community

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Black Phantom Tetra live in large schools throughout the waterways of central Brazil and the Amazon. By swimming together in large schools, the Black Phantom Tetra is able to increase its chances of survival against large predatory fish species looking for a meal. In addition to living in schools, Black Phantom Tetra also seek out areas with dense vegetation or root structures which affords them additional protection from larger fish species and good hunting grounds for small insects, larvae, plant matter and small crustaceans.

Black Phantom Tetra have been exported for the tropical fish hobby for many years, where they have proven to be a popular and hardy species. Suitable for all levels of aquarium hobbyist, a school of Black Phantom Tetra bring excitement to a wide range of freshwater planted and community aquariums.

Hobbyists looking for an attractive schooling fish species for their tropical planted or community aquarium need look no further than the Black Phantom Tetra. Black Phantom Tetra have proven over the years to be a hardy and peaceful species that do well in a variety of tropical freshwater aquarium setups. Being that they are a schooling species, they should be kept in groups of at least 4 or more individuals with 6 or more being the preferred group size.

A proper habitat for this species should include plenty of plants and branching root structures along with open swimming areas so that they have room to school and places to seek refuge when they feel threatened. Suitable tank mates should include other peaceful tropical species similar in size and disposition. When keeping Black Phantom Tetra with barb species like Tiger Barbs, it is important to keep a group of the Barbs as they naturally nip at each other.

This behavior amongst Barbs is not a problem, but a lone Barb would attempt to school with the Tetra and their fin nipping behavior would quickly stress the Black Phantom Tetra. In order to replicate the streams and flood plains of the Black Phantom Tetra origins, hobbyists should provide moderate water flow within the aquarium and areas of dense vegetation or branch root that will obscure the aquarium lights and create shaded or more dimly lit areas within the tank.

The Black Phantom Tetra will consume most all commercial foods produced for freshwater tropical community fish. They will readily accept quality flake foods, brine shrimp, daphnia, freeze-dried tubifex or blood worms, micro pellet foods and other similar commercially prepared foodstuffs.

Black Phantom Tetra should be fed an amount of food that they will consume within 3 to 5 minutes twice a day. They will generally take the food from the middle of the water column, but will also feed from the top of the water when they are comfortable in their surroundings.