Orange Congo tetra

Phenacogrammus aurantiacus

Also known as Aurantiacus Congo tetra, Lamp eye Congo tetra

FreshwaterFish

Orange Congo tetra (Phenacogrammus aurantiacus) — 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: 3.9 in (10 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Gabon and Congo coastal basins
Family: Alestidae

Overview

The orange Congo tetra is a peaceful schooling fish, kept much like its famous blue cousin, so keep a group of at least six with a mix of sexes to bring out the males' color. It swims in open midwater and does best with real length, gentle current, and soft, clean water. Give it calm community tankmates that sit at other levels, from Synodontis catfish to peaceful barbs and rasboras. Feed a varied diet of flake and pellets plus regular frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, and daphnia. A tank of around 160 liters or larger suits a school of these active, fair-sized tetras.

In the wild

This tetra comes from the soft, tea-colored forest rivers of Gabon and neighboring Congo drainages in west-central Africa. These are warm, gently flowing, tannin-stained waters over sand, leaf litter, and wood beneath dense shade. Recreate that with driftwood, a dark substrate, dim lighting, and some floating cover, keeping nitrate low. Hold the water soft and slightly acidic at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.2, with clean, well-filtered conditions and steady changes.

Good to know

Phenacogrammus aurantiacus is an African tetra in the same genus as the classic Congo tetra and grows to around 10 centimeters. The name aurantiacus is Latin for orange, for the warm gold-orange wash that mature males take on, complete with extended dorsal and tail fins; females stay smaller and duller. It is far less domesticated than the common Congo tetra and wants soft water and dim light. Aquarium breeding is not well documented, though it scatters eggs like its relatives.

Did you know

Its name aurantiacus is Latin for orange, and a display male lives up to it, glowing gold-orange with trailing fins. Set beside the blue common Congo tetra, a mixed group shows just how much color this one African genus can wear.