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African moon tetra

Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus

FreshwaterFish

African moon tetra (Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–77°F
22–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
22 gal
85 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Alestidae
Origin
Africa

Overview

The African moon tetra is a shy, peaceful schooling fish for the middle of a planted community tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The moon in the African moon tetra's name is the rounded dark spot at the base of its tail. It stands out against a body that catches the light in a warm gold sheen. It is one of the quieter African tetras, and its shy nature helps keep it uncommon in shops despite how handsome a mature group looks.

Caring for the African moon tetra

Keep African moon tetras in a group of at least six. A larger group of eight to ten helps this shy fish settle and color up. A planted tank of 22 gal (85 L) or larger suits a group, with open room to swim between the planted edges.

Dark substrate, driftwood, leaf litter and dim lighting suit it, and some shade from floating plants helps. Keep the water at 72 to 77°F (22 to 25°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 and only moderate hardness. Give it steady, well-filtered water with gentle flow.

Feed a varied menu of good flake and small frozen or live foods, such as daphnia and bloodworm, to bring out the golden sheen. The African moon tetra is a peaceful midwater swimmer. It mixes well with calm fish of a similar size, such as other tetras, rasboras or peaceful catfish.

Like most alestids, it scatters its eggs and gives no parental care. It is hard to breed in the aquarium, since it needs soft, acidic water and usually produces small spawns.

Good to know

The African moon tetra belongs to Alestidae, the African tetra family, and is a close relative of the better known Congo tetra. It is a deep-bodied, silvery-gold fish. Wild-caught stock still makes up most of what reaches the trade.

In the wild

This tetra comes from the middle and lower Congo River basin in central Africa. It lives in slow-flowing, shaded stretches, where fallen leaves and wood stain the water soft and slightly acidic.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The African moon tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an African moon tetra need?

An African moon tetra needs at least 22 gal (85 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an African moon tetra need?

An African moon tetra is comfortable at 72–77°F (22–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does an African moon tetra eat?

An African moon tetra eats good flake along with small frozen or live foods such as daphnia and bloodworm. A varied menu brings out its golden sheen.

How big does an African moon tetra get?

An adult African moon tetra reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

Does an African moon tetra need a group?

Yes. An African moon tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does an African moon tetra breed?

African moon tetras scatter their eggs and give no parental care. They are hard to breed in the aquarium, need soft, acidic water and usually produce small spawns.

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