Spot-tail Tetra

Brycinus imberi

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 7.9 in (20 cm)
Minimum tank: 65 gal (245 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: Africa
Family: Alestidae

Overview

The spot-tail tetra is a large, fast-moving African tetra that lives best in a shoal of at least six and needs plenty of length to swim. It is mostly peaceful but will eat much smaller fish, so choose robust tankmates of a similar size rather than tiny species. It occupies the middle water and appreciates strong, well-oxygenated flow that suits a river fish. Feed a varied diet of sinking and floating dried foods along with frozen and live items like insect larvae and prawn. Because it is so active, give it a long tank of at least 245 liters, and more length is always better.

In the wild

This tetra is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from West African rivers through the Congo basin and into the Zambezi and the great lakes of the east. It lives in flowing rivers and lake margins, often in open, moving water. Aim for 22 to 27 C with a pH from 6.0 to 7.5 and moderate hardness, and give it brisk current from strong filtration. Open swimming space matters more than heavy planting, with a sandy bed, some driftwood, and hardy plants around the edges to frame the tank.

Good to know

The spot-tail tetra belongs to Alestidae, the African tetra family, and is a silvery, streamlined fish named for the dark blotch on its tail base. It is far larger than the small tetras of the hobby, reaching around 20 cm in the wild, which is why it needs a big, long tank. It is widely fished for food across its huge African range. There is no established record of it breeding in home aquaria, and it is presumed to be an open-water egg-scatterer like its relatives.

Did you know

Under its many local names this fish supports small food fisheries across much of Africa, from West Africa to the Zambezi and the eastern lakes. It is one of the giants of the African tetra family, growing several times the length of the little tetras usually kept in home tanks.