Niger tetra

Arnoldichthys spilopterus

Also known as African Red Eyed Tetra

FreshwaterFish

Niger tetra (Arnoldichthys spilopterus) — Aquarium_tropical_du_Palais_de_la_Porte_Dorée_-_Phenacogrammus_interruptus.jpg: KoS derivative work: Haplochromis (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–81°F (24–27°C)
pH: 6.0–8.0
Adult size: 3.9 in (10 cm)
Minimum tank: 50 gal (190 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Nigeria
Family: Alestidae

Overview

Keep a group of at least six in a tank of 190 liters or larger, since they're big, fast, and need swimming space. They're peaceful but active and sit in the middle to upper water column. Water should sit in the mid 20s C with a pH anywhere from 6 to 8. They're easy eaters and do well on quality flake, pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworm. Pair them with robust tankmates rather than tiny fish.

In the wild

The Niger tetra comes from rivers and streams in southern Nigeria, including the Niger and Ogun basins. These are soft to moderately hard waters with cover from plants and roots. A planted tank with open swimming room in the middle suits them, with water from acidic to slightly alkaline. They aren't fussy about exact parameters as long as conditions are stable.

Good to know

This is an African characin in the family Alestidae, growing to about 10 cm. It's an egg scatterer with no parental care. Adults are silver with a dark spot on the dorsal fin and a sharp red and gold eye. The IUCN lists it as Endangered, as an endemic Nigerian species with declining populations.

Did you know

Unlike most tetras, the female lays unusually large eggs and scatters them where they sink into leaf litter and debris. The fry are big at hatching and grow fast, which is one reason this species is a bit easier to breed than many of its relatives.