Black phantom tetra
Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
Also known as Megalamphodus megalopterus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–82°F
- 21–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.4 in
- 3.6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 17 gal
- 65 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Characidae
- Origin
- Bolivia, Brazil
Overview
The black phantom tetra is a peaceful, easy-to-keep schooler for the middle of a community tank.
Did you know
Male black phantom tetras spar by flaring their fins at each other, which is harmless posturing rather than real fighting. With a few males together, the displays happen daily, especially at feeding time or when a female is around. The mock duels sort out a loose pecking order without anyone getting hurt.
Caring for the black phantom tetra
Keep six or more black phantom tetras in 17 gal (65 L) or larger. A planted setup with subdued lighting and open mid-water swimming room suits them, and they hold the middle of the water column.
Keep the water at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They eat small flake, micro pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms or brine shrimp.
Black phantom tetras are peaceful and suit a community tank. Males and females are easy to tell apart. Males have taller dorsal fins, while females have a rounder body and a reddish tinge to the fins. They scatter their eggs and give no parental care, and breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The black phantom tetra is a characid in the family Characidae. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
In the wild
Black phantom tetras live in slow, shaded streams of the Paraguay and Guaporé basins across Bolivia and Brazil. The water there is soft and acidic, with sand or fine gravel underfoot and tree cover keeping the light low.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The black phantom 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Pinocchio whiptail
Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus
Freshwater5.3 in (13.5 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Fanning characin
Pyrrhulina rachoviana
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Gold rabbit snail
Tylomelania gemmifera
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a black phantom tetra need?
A black phantom tetra needs at least 17 gal (65 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a black phantom tetra need?
A black phantom tetra is comfortable at 70–82°F (21–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a black phantom tetra eat?
A black phantom tetra eats small flake, micro pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms or brine shrimp.
How big does a black phantom tetra get?
An adult black phantom tetra reaches about 1.4 in (3.6 cm).
Does a black phantom tetra need a group?
Yes. A black phantom tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male black phantom tetra from a female?
Males have taller dorsal fins. Females have a rounder body and a reddish tinge to the fins.
How does a black phantom tetra breed?
Black phantom tetras are egg scatterers and give their eggs no parental care. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Related species
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Hyphessobrycon amapaensis
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Hyphessobrycon simulatus
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Hyphessobrycon clavatus
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Hyphessobrycon moniliger
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