Darter tetra

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a bottom dweller rather than a mid water schooler, so give it a sandy or fine gravel floor with stones and wood to perch on. It is peaceful and a little territorial with its own kind, so allow space if you keep several. Cooler, well oxygenated, flowing water suits it best.

In the wild

Lives along the bottom of flowing streams and rivers, often over sand and gravel among stones and roots. It props itself on its pectoral fins and darts between resting spots rather than swimming in open water. It picks small invertebrates from the substrate.

Good to know

Characidium fasciatum is a small, bottom hugging characin of around 6 cm, marked with a row of dark bars along a pale body. It belongs to the family Crenuchidae, the South American darters. It perches on its fins in the manner of a goby or true darter.

Did you know

Instead of cruising with a school, it spends its time perched on its fins and making short darting hops along the bottom, just like the darters it is named after.

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