Breeding the Black Tetra
By Jason Shaw, Campbell River Aquarium Society
Aquarticles
Common Name: Black Tetra, Black Widow
Scientific Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Wild Distribution: Bolivia
Length: 2 ¼"
Water Temperature: 75 - 82F
A wonderful and very active fish, the Black Tetra is a great addition to a community
tank. It will school with any other schooling fish.
Males and females are very similar. Females have a much rounder abdominal area and seem to
grow larger and faster. Colouration and finnage can vary. These tetras tend to get much
darker when in breeding mode or very happy in their surroundings. Their fins can vary in
length. Black Tetras carry a black or light tan body colour with three black vertical
stripes. Their anal and dorsal fins can also be tipped with black. Black Tetras also have
a small adipose fin, which is located just up from the tail.
I've never had any problems keeping Black Tetras. They do love to eat and will grow
quickly.
Breeding Notes:
I've spawned these guys a few different ways:
I tried putting two females and three males in a 15 gallon tank. The tank was 80F and
had spawning grass on the bottom. The females were already full of eggs when introduced to
the tank. The pH was 7.3 and the GH was 3*. I had no problems getting my fish to spawn but
I did have lots of trouble getting the fish out of the tank. Black Tetras really do hate
nets!! I felt that this disturbed the eggs and the parents could still have access
to the eggs.
Later I placed two females and four males inside a 10 gallon basket, which was hung
inside a 33 gallon tank. This allowed the eggs to drop through the basket, and kept the
parents away from the eggs. My first few batches of eggs turned white. I had a fellow
breeder tell me that all white eggs are no good. (Tell that to a Betta breeder).
The third batch I allowed to sit. Within four days I had about four hundred fry
clinging to the glass walls. So only suck up white "fuzzy" eggs. As most
breeders of egg-scattering fish know, the fry are super tiny when first born.
Fry Care:
Now these guys are really small. You have three choices; you can try feeding a really fine
powder like A.P.R. from OSI, or try micro worms or vinegar eels. After about the second or
third day, you may be able to get them to eat newly hatched brine shrimp. Refrain from
water changes for about two weeks. The fry are really susceptible to changing water
conditions in the beginning.
Black Tetras do grow really fast and are a selling size at about 2 ½ months. Once they
reach the one month mark, they will eat just about anything you throw at them.
Good Luck and Enjoy
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