Red comet tetra

Bathyaethiops flammeus

Also known as Fire comet tetra, Red back moon tetra

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.0
Adult size: 2 in (5 cm)
Minimum tank: 24 gal (90 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Congo basin
Family: Alestidae

Overview

The red comet tetra is a small, peaceful schooling fish, so keep a group of at least six to eight to see it relax and color up. It occupies the middle of the tank and suits a quiet, softly lit community of other gentle fish that will not compete hard for food. Give it open swimming space over a dark base with some planted cover. Because it is not large, feed small foods: a fine flake or micropellet staple with frequent frozen or live daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and cyclops. A tank of around 90 liters or more gives a small school room to move.

In the wild

The red comet tetra is a recently described fish from the shaded forest streams of the Congo River basin, known from small tributaries such as the Bakéré and Ruki. These are soft, gently acidic, slow to moderate waters over sand, wood, and fallen leaves. Recreate that with driftwood, a dark substrate, leaf litter, and dim lighting. Keep it soft and acidic to neutral at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.0, with clean, stable water and gentle filtration.

Good to know

Bathyaethiops flammeus is a small African moon tetra, described only in 2016 and reaching about 5 centimeters. Its name flammeus is Latin for flame-colored, for the vivid red spot it carries on the nape, just in front of the dorsal fin; the mark is bright red in life and fades to white in preserved specimens. It is one of the more recently named alestids, and there is no aquarium breeding record yet, though it is presumed to scatter eggs like its close relatives.

Did you know

Only named by science in 2016, this little tetra takes its name from a single bright red spot on its nape that looks lit from within; that flame-red mark fades to plain white once a specimen is preserved in alcohol.