Niger yellow Congo tetra

Alestopetersius smykalai

Also known as Smykala's Congo tetra, Blue diamond Congo tetra

FreshwaterFish

Niger yellow Congo tetra (Alestopetersius smykalai) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.2
Adult size: 2.8 in (7 cm)
Minimum tank: 29 gal (110 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lower Niger basin, Nigeria
Family: Alestidae

Overview

The Niger yellow Congo tetra, better known in shops as the blue diamond tetra, is a calm shoaling fish that can be a little skittish, so keep a group of at least six to eight and give it gentle, quiet company. It swims in open midwater and settles best with other peaceful community fish rather than boisterous or nippy ones. Provide swimming room, subdued lighting, and some cover at the edges. Feed a varied diet of quality flake or micropellet with regular small frozen and live foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp. Plan on 110 liters or more for a comfortable group.

In the wild

Despite the Congo tetra label, this fish is endemic to the lower Niger River basin in Nigeria, where it lives in soft, near-neutral, and often surprisingly cool flowing water. Its home streams run over sand and leaf litter with wood and marginal cover. Set up a planted tank with driftwood, some shade, and open water to swim in. Keep it soft and gently acidic to neutral at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.2, and avoid the warmer end for long spells, since wild fish see cooler water.

Good to know

Alestopetersius smykalai is a small alestid of around 7 centimeters. Males are the reason for the blue diamond name, with a brilliant blue back, a long dorsal fin, and a white-edged anal fin, while females are plainer. The species honors its collector, E. R. Smykala. It has a very small natural range and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List; aquarium breeding is not reliably on record, though it scatters eggs like its kin.

Did you know

Of all the fish sold as Congo tetras, this is the odd one out: it is the only one that does not come from the Congo at all, but from the Niger basin in Nigeria, where its tiny range now leaves it listed as Endangered.

Tank mates

Niger yellow Congo tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.