Difference between revisions of "Gymnocorymbus ternetzi"

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(black tetra)
 
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|stub=No
 
|stub=No
 
|name=Black Widow tetra
 
|name=Black Widow tetra
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|extra_common_names=Black Tetra, Skirt Tetra, Black Skirt Tetra, Butterfly Tetra, Black Widow Tetra, White Skirt Tetra, Petticoat Tetra, Goldskirt Tetra, Strawberry Tetra, Blueberry Tetra
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|extra_common_names=Black Tetra, Skirt Tetra, Black Skirt Tetra, Butterfly Tetra, Black Widow Tetra, White Skirt Tetra, Petticoat Tetra, Goldskirt Tetra, Strawberry Tetra, Blueberry Tetra, Blackamoor, High-fin Black skirt tetra
 
|species=Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
 
|species=Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
 
|extra_scientific_names=Moenkhausia ternetzi, Tetragonopterus ternetzi
 
|extra_scientific_names=Moenkhausia ternetzi, Tetragonopterus ternetzi
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|image=Gymnocorymbus_ternetzi5839.JPG
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|image=Gymnocorymbus ternetzi.JPG
 
|caption=Black Widow tetra
 
|caption=Black Widow tetra
 
|availability=C
 
|availability=C
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|max_water_hardness=12
 
|max_water_hardness=12
 
}}
 
}}
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{{Basic fish page
 
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|origin=:Black widow or Skirt tetra is native to Bolivia, Brazil and northern Argentina where it can be found in the middle and upper water layers or river basins.
 
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|sexing=:Females are slightly bigger than males and have a larger belly. Males have a wider [[anal]] fin, and a narrower more pointed [[dorsal]] fin.
 
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|tank_compatibility=:A peaceful community fish that should be kept in groups of 6 or more. Keep with other peaceful community fish, but nothing with long fins as the Black Widow Tetra may nip, especially if kept in small numbers.
 
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|diet=:Will accept most foods including pellet and flake as well as live/frozen food such as [[bloodworm]] and [[daphnia]].
 
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|feeding_regime=:Feed once or twice a day.
 
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|environment_specifics=:Keep in a spacious tank with hiding places amongst plants as well as open swimming space. The tank should be mature and well filtered but without too much current. Avoid very bright lights.
 
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|behaviour=:A peaceful active shoaling fish.
 
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|identification=:Tall, oval-shaped and highly compressed they are noted for their curved anal fin which is quite long. It is almost as long as the entire rear half of the body. Two known true colour variations are available, the most well known being the Black Skirt Tetra which has a silver body colour while the fins are mostly black with two or three vertical bands on the body. The White Skirt Tetra lacks colour and the body is white, almost appearing pink, while the fins are mostly translucent. Long-fin varieties of both colours have been bred but are difficult to keep as they will fin-nip amongst themselves.
 
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}}
 
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{{Categories
 
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|Category=Fish, Fish (Freshwater), Characins, Tetras, Tetras, Shoaling Community Fish
 
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}}
 
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== Special Notes ==
 
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:This species is one of those fish that is sometimes offered [[Dyed Fish|dyed]] (Many aquarists consider the dying of fish unethical, please read and understand fish dying before purchasing dyed fish).  They are often referred to as Fruit Loop Tetras.
 
  
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:A natural variation of the Black Skirt Tetra is also the Petticoat or White Tetra.
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The black tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi), also known as the black skirt tetra, petticoat tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra, black widow tetra and blackamoor, is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae).<ref>tetra</ref>
 +
It is native to the Paraguay River basin of south-central Brazil (mainly Pantanal region), Paraguay and northeast Argentina, but there are also populations in the upper Paraná and Paraíba do Sul Rivers that likely were introduced.<ref>tetra</ref> It was formerly reported from the Guapore River, but this population is part of G. flaviolimai, which is found throughout the Madeira River basin and was described in 2015.<ref>tetra</ref> The black tetra is often kept in aquariums.<ref>tetra</ref>
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Growing up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) in length,<ref>tetra</ref> the black tetra has a roughly tetragonal body shape and is greyish in colour, fading from near black at the tail to light at the nose. Two prominent, black, vertical bars appear just posterior to the gills.<ref>tetra</ref> It is easily distinguished from all of its congeners by the presence of a dense field of dark chromatophores spread homogeneously over the posterior one half of the body unlike the lack of such pigmentation in all congeners.<ref>tetra</ref>
 +
 
 +
The black widow tetra is a shoaling fish that feeds on small crustaceans, insects, and worms.<ref>tetra</ref>
 +
 
 +
Contents
 +
In the aquarium
 +
edit
 +
 
 +
Black tetras of the leucistic aquarium variant
 +
The black skirt tetra is a common fish that is widely available for purchase.
 +
 
 +
Hobbyists often provide live foods such as Daphnia and mosquito larvae, and frozen foods like bloodworms.[citation needed]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
In a home aquarium
 +
The species reaches sexual maturity at about two years of age. Like most characins, this species spawns by intermittently releasing and fertilizing eggs among plants. It frequently eats its own eggs, so keepers remove the fish after spawning.
 +
 
 +
The lifespan in captivity is 3 to 5 years.<ref>tetra</ref>
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 +
 
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A green Glofish tetra
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The black tetra was also used to make genetically modified fish sold as GloFish (fluorescent colored fish), available in a wide variety of colors.
  
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:There are also 'painted' versions available. These fish are fed particular highly coloured food which alters their body colour. But they quickly loose this colour when taken home.
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Similar names
 +
edit
 +
The black phantom tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) is a separate species. The black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) is sometimes also called the black tetra.
  
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:Although  the term "[[Glofish]]" refers to genetically modified ''[[Danio rerio]]'', a new selection of genetically modified black skirts called "Glo-Tetra" has now become available in the pet trade.
 
  
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|Category=Fish, Fish (Freshwater), Characins, Tetras,
 
== Pictures ==
 
== Pictures ==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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*[http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/tet-bwid.htm The Tropical Tank]
 
*[http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/tet-bwid.htm The Tropical Tank]
 
*[http://www.mongabay.com/fish/species/Gymnocorymbus_ternetzi.html Mongabay]
 
*[http://www.mongabay.com/fish/species/Gymnocorymbus_ternetzi.html Mongabay]
 +
*[https://www.aquariumfriend.com/black-skirt-tetra/ Black Skirt Tetra Care Guide]

Latest revision as of 21:10, 2 November 2024

Black Widow tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi.JPG
Black Widow tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Difficulty

Moderate

Min. Tank Size

57 Litres (15 US G.)

Size

2.5-5.1cm (1-2 ")

sg

Freshwater

pH

5.8 - 8

Temp.

20-26.1°C (68 -79 °F)

Water Hardness

8-12 °d

Stocking Ratio

1:2 M:F

Availability

Common

Diet

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods

Life Span

5-6 years

Habitat

South America

Family

Characidae

This animal is available captive bred



Additional names

Black Tetra, Skirt Tetra, Black Skirt Tetra, Butterfly Tetra, Black Widow Tetra, White Skirt Tetra, Petticoat Tetra, Goldskirt Tetra, Strawberry Tetra, Blueberry Tetra, Blackamoor, High-fin Black skirt tetra

Additional scientific names

Moenkhausia ternetzi, Tetragonopterus ternetzi


The black tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi), also known as the black skirt tetra, petticoat tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra, black widow tetra and blackamoor, is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae).[1] It is native to the Paraguay River basin of south-central Brazil (mainly Pantanal region), Paraguay and northeast Argentina, but there are also populations in the upper Paraná and Paraíba do Sul Rivers that likely were introduced.[2] It was formerly reported from the Guapore River, but this population is part of G. flaviolimai, which is found throughout the Madeira River basin and was described in 2015.[3] The black tetra is often kept in aquariums.[4]

Growing up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) in length,[5] the black tetra has a roughly tetragonal body shape and is greyish in colour, fading from near black at the tail to light at the nose. Two prominent, black, vertical bars appear just posterior to the gills.[6] It is easily distinguished from all of its congeners by the presence of a dense field of dark chromatophores spread homogeneously over the posterior one half of the body unlike the lack of such pigmentation in all congeners.[7]

The black widow tetra is a shoaling fish that feeds on small crustaceans, insects, and worms.[8]

Contents In the aquarium edit

Black tetras of the leucistic aquarium variant The black skirt tetra is a common fish that is widely available for purchase.

Hobbyists often provide live foods such as Daphnia and mosquito larvae, and frozen foods like bloodworms.[citation needed]


In a home aquarium The species reaches sexual maturity at about two years of age. Like most characins, this species spawns by intermittently releasing and fertilizing eggs among plants. It frequently eats its own eggs, so keepers remove the fish after spawning.

The lifespan in captivity is 3 to 5 years.[9]


A green Glofish tetra The black tetra was also used to make genetically modified fish sold as GloFish (fluorescent colored fish), available in a wide variety of colors.

Similar names edit The black phantom tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) is a separate species. The black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) is sometimes also called the black tetra.


|Category=Fish, Fish (Freshwater), Characins, Tetras,

Pictures[edit]

  • BlackWidowTetra.jpg
  • BlackWidowTetra1.jpg

  • Side view Female

  • Female

  • Gymnocorymbus ternetzi3.jpg

  • Dyed White Skirt Tetras

Videos[edit]

External links[edit]

  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
  • ↑ tetra
    • Retrieved from "https://theaquariumwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Gymnocorymbus_ternetzi&oldid=91121"