Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Its flowing black "skirt" makes it look elegant, but in small groups it can turn into a fin-nipper.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 5.5 cm, lives in the middle of the tank in groups of 5 or more and needs 21–27 °C, pH 6.0–7.8 and an aquarium of at least 60 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

21–27 °C (70–81 °F)

pH

6.0–7.8

Adult size

5.5 cm (2.2 in)

Aquarium

60 L or bigger (16 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

5 or more

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Paraguay & Guaporé basins

Good to know

• Fin nipper. Nips the fins of long-finned and slow tank mates.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Amano Shrimp, Bristlenose Pleco, Corydoras, Dwarf Gourami, Ghost Shrimp, Honey Gourami, Kuhli Loach, Marbled Hatchetfish, Mystery Snail, Otocinclus.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Axolotl, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacks: Angelfish, Axolotl, Betta, Congo Tetra, Discus, Fancy Goldfish, Fancy Guppy, Frontosa.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Betta, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Fancy Guppy and 13 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cherry Barb, Clown Loach, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Discus and 21 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic common
• White Skirt uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.