Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon megalopterus is an attractive, peaceful, and active fish that is very popular due to its elegant appearance.
Black Phantom Tetra, also called as Phantom Tetra and its scientific name Hyphessobrycon megalopterus, is an attractive, peaceful, and active fish that is very popular among aquarists due to its elegant appearance. A school of this fish can easily be the highlight in any peaceful community aquarium, and will particularly stand out in any planted aquarium.
BLACK PHANTOM TETRA DESCRIPTION:
Black Phantom Tetra come from South America, where it occurs in areas of central Brazil and Bolivia. They are usually found in still and sluggish tributaries and backwaters, including ponds and small lakes, where it forms aggregations around patches of marginal vegetation or submerged tree roots.
These fish can grow to 5 cm and can live for up to 5 years if kept at the right conditions. They have oval-shape with a silver colored body and flashes of black over the fins. A black blotch behind the gills is a characteristic of these tetras.
The males have fins that are longer than the females fins. The male can become darker in color when ready to spawn or if they are defending their territory in the aquarium against other fish. Females are plumper and fuller in the body and have a red flash through the fins and can sometimes be mistaken for another type tetra.
BLACK PHANTOM TETRA CARE:
These fish are a very versatile species in the terms of water quality with a wide tolerance for pH and hardness, but live best with soft (50-100 mg/l), acidic water (pH 6.5) and tempearature of 23-28 °C. They are best kept in schools of at least 6-8 fish with minimum tank size of 15 gallons which is rich in tannins and leaf litter. It requires very clean water to thrive and it will display optimal coloration and health in a planted aquarium, especially where floating plants are present to mimic their natural habitat.
Males can be slightly aggressive but only when claiming territory and may fight with other males over areas in the tank, most do not lead to injuries to the fish though. The males are even known to ‘push’ the females around when breeding.
They are omnivorous and will easily accept high quality dry and frozen foods. They may survive on a diet of dried foods but like most fishes does best when offered a varied menu which in this case should also contain live and frozen chironomid larvae (bloodworm), mosquito larvae, Daphnia, Moina...
In terms of association with other species, Black phantom tetra is compatible for a community aquarium. It will easily associate with all other peaceful and not too large fish species (Apistogramma, Rasbora, Tetra...). Be careful that its lively temperament does not disturb the other occupants of the tank. Indeed, it can be turbulent, which could bother more timid species. Finally, beware of predation by phantom tetra on juvenile shrimp.
BLACK PHANTOM TETRA BREEDING:
Choose female that is already starting to fill with eggs. Separate the breeders and feed well with both live and frozen foods for about a week to condition them. Prepare a 10 gallon tank with fresh soft water, clean bottom, small filter, and plants, both rooted and floating, for them to lay the eggs in. To stimulate breeding, pH is lowered to about 5.5-6, the general hardness of the water is also reduced below four degrees. Age the water for one or two days and put the tank in a low-light area. Then introduce one breeding pair.
The female may lay 200 to 400 tiny eggs. The eggs are scattered at random, after which the adults must be removed from the spawning tank so that they do not devour them. Run the filter heavily for 2 days to help reduce pollution from the spawning. The fry seem to be very sensitive to light, which presents a problem when they begin feeding.
After 2 days, slow the filter air down to encourage some natural infusoria growth. The fry are very tiny and takes about five days to free-swimming, at which stage they should be offered a suitable fry food like infusoria for a few days. Commercial fry foods of suitable sizes can be used but at all stages the young fish benefit from live food of the right size.
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