Black Skirt Tetra: A Dark, Flowing Silhouette

In this guide

Overview

The black skirt tetra, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi, is named for the flowing, skirt-like black anal and dorsal fins that trail behind its silvery grey, black-striped body. It comes from Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina and grows to around six centimetres, making it one of the larger commonly kept tetras.

A long-finned variety, bred for even more dramatic trailing fins, is also popular in the Indian aquarium trade alongside the standard short-finned form.

Tank and water requirements

A group of six or more does well in a tank of sixty litres upwards, given their larger adult size compared to neon or ember tetras. They are hardy and adaptable, tolerating a wide range of water hardness and settling well into typical Indian tap water.

As with serpae tetras, keeping a proper group size helps curb any tendency towards fin nipping, which black skirts can show if understocked or kept with slow, long-finned tankmates.

Diet and behaviour

An easy omnivorous diet of flakes, pellets and occasional live or frozen food suits them well. They are active, hardy fish that make a good choice for a beginner wanting a slightly larger, more dramatic tetra than the classic neon.

Their colour fades somewhat with age, with older fish often looking greyer than the striking black-and-silver of younger individuals, which is a normal part of maturing rather than a health concern.

Buying tips

• Priced around twenty to fifty rupees per fish for the standard form, with long-finned varieties costing more
• A hardy, forgiving choice for a beginner's first shoaling fish beyond guppies and platies
• Keep in a group of six or more and avoid pairing with slow, long-finned tankmates to minimise nipping

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