Long-fin tetra

Care at a glance

Overview

These are active, mostly peaceful schoolers that need a group of at least six and a good amount of swimming room, so around 190 liters fits them better than a small tank. They cruise the middle and upper water and are fast, restless swimmers. Feed a mix of quality flake, small pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. They mix well with other robust, similarly sized community fish but may nip very slow or long-finned tankmates.

In the wild

Long-fin tetras come from West Africa, living in Atlantic coastal river basins from Gambia to Gabon and into the DR Congo, in slow rivers, lakes, and coastal streams with soft, slightly acidic to neutral water. These spots have dense plant growth, submerged roots, and a sandy or fine gravel bottom. A planted tank with driftwood, open swimming lanes, and a darker substrate suits them. Keep the water soft, pH 6 to 7.5, and temps in the low to mid 20s C.

Good to know

Brycinus longipinnis is an African characin in the family Alestidae and grows to about 12.5 cm. It has a streamlined silver body with a tall dorsal fin in mature fish. It is an egg-scatterer with no parental care, and eggs hatch in roughly a day and a half to two days. The species is widespread and listed as Least Concern.

Did you know

Mature males develop notably extended dorsal and anal fins, which is where the common name comes from. They use those flowing fins in display, flaring at rivals and showing off to females, so the longest-finned males tend to be the dominant ones in a group.

Related species

• 

  Spot-tail Tetra

  Brycinus imberi

  7.9 in (20 cm)65 gal (245 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Sharptooth tetra

  Micralestes acutidens

  3.5 in (9 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Yellow-tailed Congo tetra

  Alestopetersius caudalis

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Niger tetra

  Arnoldichthys spilopterus

  3.9 in (10 cm)50 gal (190 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Congo tetra

  Phenacogrammus interruptus

  3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
• African Moon Tetra

  Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus

  3.1 in (8 cm)22 gal (85 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)