Black Skirt Tetra: Complete Care Guide

Black skirt tetras are eye-catching fish that bring contrast to a planted aquarium.

They’re known for their dark coloration and active behavior, making them popular choices among fishkeepers.

They generally adapt well to community tanks and are relatively easy to care for.

I’ll discuss where Black Skirt Tetras come from, how they behave, what they need in their tank, what they eat, and more.

After reading this, you might wonder why you didn’t get Black Skirt Tetras sooner.

Origin

The Black Skirt Tetra, scientifically known as Gymnocorymbus ternetzi, originates from South America.

Mostly from the Paraguay and Guaporé River basins in Brazil, Bolivia, and parts of Paraguay.

Additionally, clusters of Black Skirt Tetras can be spotted near the upper Paraná and Paraíba do Sul Rivers.

These tetras are accustomed to warm, slow-moving waters within densely vegetated areas, where they often form schools among aquatic plants.

Aside from their common name, “Black Skirt Tetra,” these fish are also referred to by other names in the aquarium trade. Some of the alternative names include:

• Blackamoor Tetra
• Black Widow Tetra
• Petticoat Tetra

Size

Black Skirt Tetra is a relatively small fish, typically reaching a maximum length of around 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) when fully grown.

Availability

Black Skirt Tetras are commonly available in the aquarium trade. They’re often found in pet stores, aquarium specialty shops, and online fish retailers.

Their availability can vary depending on location. They’re generally considered readily accessible in many regions where aquarium fish are sold.

Black Skirt Tetras are considered a budget-friendly option for fishkeepers looking to add colorful, active, and easily adaptable fish to their community tanks.

Prices can vary based on factors such as the size, the quality of the specimens, and the vendor.

On average, you can expect to purchase these tetras for a few dollars per fish.

Sometimes, buying them in larger quantities might lead to discounts or lower individual prices.

Appearance and Sex Differences

Black Skirt Tetras have a rectangular-shaped body with a taller front and a narrow tail.

They’re small fish, usually about 1 to 2 ½ inches long, but sometimes they can grow up to 3 inches.

These fish have a cool color pattern. Their top is silvery, and it gets darker towards their belly, which looks black.

They also have two black stripes on their sides and black fins. As they get older, their dark colors might fade and look paler.

But if you keep them in a good tank with clean water and good food, they’ll stay colorful for longer.

It’s a bit tricky to tell the difference between male and female Black Skirt Tetras. Females are slightly bigger and rounder, especially when they’re going to have babies. Males have a bigger back fin called the anal fin.

While Black Skirt Tetras can be bred successfully in captivity, their lifespan tends to be relatively short.

Typically ranging between 3 to 5 years when kept in aquariums. Several factors can influence their longevity, with proper care and a healthy habitat being key elements.

Maintaining a clean and stable aquarium environment is crucial for the well-being of Black Skirt Tetras.

Fishkeepers has also bred long-finned and pearl-white variations of this species.

Behavior

Black Skirt Tetras generally have a peaceful nature, but they might become nippy if kept with fish that have long, flowing fins, such as Angelfish or Betta Fish. Another fish to avoid pairing them with is Tiger Barbs, as they can also be fin nippers.

These tetras enjoy swimming around the tank, exploring, and checking out what’s happening. Black Skirt Tetras prefer being in schools of around ten or more for their best well-being.

One cool thing about them is how they swim together in a school, moving in unison. Sometimes, one might break away from the group for a little solo adventure before rejoining the school.

Despite their tendency to nip at fish with long fins, they are generally timid and prefer having hiding spots in the tank. Caves, plants, rocks, and wood in the tank provide them with places to hide and feel safe.

They like swimming in the middle part of the tank but tall plants will be a great choice to create hiding places for them in that area.

Their peaceful nature makes them suitable for community tanks with other fish that don’t have long, flowing fins or aggressive tendencies.

Care

Maintaining Black Skirt Tetras in captivity isn’t overly complicated. Ensuring their well-being involves paying attention to certain care aspects.

Regularly clean the tank and perform routine water changes to maintain excellent water quality.

Ensure stability in water parameters, including temperature, pH (slightly acidic to neutral), ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. Fluctuations can stress the fish.

Incorporate hiding spots, caves, plants, and decorations in the tank. Black Skirt Tetras feel more secure and less stressed when they have places to hide and explore.

Choose tank mates carefully. Avoid aggressive fish or those with long, flowing fins.

Try to replicate their native South American environment as much as possible. Read more about it in the section below.

Tank Requirements

A minimum tank size of 15 gallons is recommended for a small school of Black Skirt Tetras.

Larger tanks, like a 20-gallon, are even better. Avoid overcrowding to prevent stress and ensure sufficient swimming space.

Use gravel or dark sand resembling their natural habitat. Add driftwood, rocks, and caves for hiding spots, although they don’t frequently visit the tank bottom.

Choose taller plants that go halfway up the tank. Put them at the back and around the sides. This way, your fish have room to swim and places to hide in the plants.

Maintain clean water with a reliable filter to remove waste and keep ammonia and nitrate levels low. Make sure the water flow in the tank is gentle.

Black Skirt Tetras thrive in warm, somewhat acidic, and soft water conditions:

• pH levels: 6.0 to 7.5
• Water hardness: 4 to 8 dKH
• Water temperature: 70°F to 85°F (21.1-29.4°C)

Keeping the water parameters stable is the key. No need to aim for perfect numbers. Just keep them in the right range.

These fish are sensitive to water quality and nitrogenous compounds. Perform regular 25-50% weekly water changes to keep water quality optimal and consistent.

Dim lighting can help Black Skirt Tetras display more vibrant colors.  You can do this using LED lights that you can change to get the brightness you want.

A 15-gallon tank can accommodate a school of 6 Black Skirt Tetras comfortably.

However, more space is recommended for a larger school or if other fish species share the tank.

Avoid overcrowding to prevent stress and ensure their activity.

Diseases

Black Skirt Tetras, like other fish, can sometimes get sick. Several diseases may affect them, but being aware of these illnesses and their symptoms can help prevent and treat them promptly.

Ich (White Spot Disease)

Ich is a prevalent fish disease caused by a parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Affected fish develop tiny white spots resembling grains of salt on their bodies, fins, and gills. They may rub against objects in the tank due to irritation.

Ich can spread rapidly, especially in stressful conditions or poor water quality.

Fin Rot

Fin rot is a bacterial infection that damages the fins of fish, making them look frayed or disintegrated. It’s usually caused by poor water conditions or injuries.

Infected fins may appear red or white at the edges, and affected fish might show reduced activity and appetite.

Velvet disease

Protozoan infections like Velvet disease can impact Black Skirt Tetra.

Velvet disease is caused by parasites Oodinium limneticum and Oodinium pilularis.

Infected fish display symptoms such as yellowish dust-like particles on their bodies, clamped fins, and reduced activity.

Treatment options include using sodium chloride and specialized medications targeting this disease.

Raising the water temperature slightly can also be helpful

Tank Mates

Black Skirt Tetras are generally peaceful and sociable fish. Other tetra species like Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, or Ember Tetras can be suitable tank mates.

They share similar water parameter requirements and peaceful temperaments.

Fish like Platies, Guppies, and Swordtails can coexist peacefully due to their non-aggressive nature and compatibility with water conditions.

Bottom-dwelling fish such as Corydoras Catfish are compatible tank mates. They are peaceful and won’t disturb the Black Skirt Tetras.

Peaceful, active fish like Harlequin Rasboras or Celestial Pearl Danios can be good companions.

Some Gourami species, such as Honey Gouramis or Sparkling Gouramis, can work well, provided the tank is spacious enough and hiding spots are available.

Here’s a list of some of suitable tank mates for your Black Skirt Tetras:

• Harlequin Rasbora
• Bolivian Rams
• Cardinal Tetra
• Celestial Pearl Danio
• Chili Rasbora
• Cory Catfish
• Dwarf Gourami
• Honey Gourami
• Neon Tetra
• Kuhli Loaches
• Giant Danio

As I mentioned earlier, avoid keeping Black Skirt Tetras with fish possessing long, flowing fins such as Angelfish or Betta Fish as the tetras may nip at their fins.

Avoid fish like Tiger Barbs or larger Cichlids, which might cause stress or conflict.

Diet

In the wild, Black Skirt Tetras primarily feed on insect larvae found on the water’s surface.

In aquariums, they greatly favor live or frozen food like blackworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and tubifex.

Supplementing their diet with frozen plankton (like daphnia or cyclops) and occasional high-quality flake foods enriched with vitamins aids in their growth and coloration.

You can give Black Skirt Tetras dry commercial food such as pellets or flakes.

Ideally, food should have vital nutrients such as protein, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and fibers.

Black Skirt Tetras specifically require fibers as they support digestion.

However, a consistent diet of dry foods is not recommended for extended periods.

Breeding

For successful breeding set up a separate breeding tank. A breeding tank with a capacity of around 30-50 liters (8-13 gallons) will be ideal.

Maintain a stable temperature between 25-30°C (77-86°F) as Black Skirt Tetras prefer slightly warmer water for breeding. General Hardness (GH): Up to 5 degrees GH is suitable. Keep KH below 2 degrees.

Aim for a neutral pH around 7.0, which is ideal for their breeding conditions.

A thin layer of sanitized sand or fine gravel at the tank bottom mimics the natural environment of Black Skirt Tetras.

It provides a suitable base for egg deposition and offers a natural feel to the tank.

Delicate plants, particularly moss like Java moss or other fine-leaved varieties, are fantastic choices for breeding tank.

An egg-laying grid positioned a couple of centimeters above the substrate provides a suitable area for egg attachment and protects the eggs from being eaten by the adult fish.

Introduce a mature female and two males into this prepared tank.

Male Black Skirt Tetras may exhibit brighter colors and possess a slimmer body compared to females.

Males may also display more intense black coloration.

During breeding, the male will chase the female around the tank, nudging her abdomen to encourage egg release.

Females can lay between 500-1000 eggs during a spawning.

Prompt removal of adult fish post-spawning is crucial to prevent them from consuming the eggs.

After 24-48 hours, the eggs hatch, and for the initial 4-5 days, the fry remain almost motionless, utilizing their yolk sacs for sustenance.

After this period, they transform into fry and begin actively swimming, signaling the need for feeding.

Protozoans are great for feeding young fry at first. After about three weeks, you can start giving them small frozen foods and sometimes dry powdered foods.

Maintain pristine water quality and perform regular small water changes to ensure the fry’s health and growth.

When well-fed and cared for, young Black Skirt Tetras grow quickly

They are reaching adult size in about a year and becoming ready for breeding themselves.

In conclusion

Keeping Black Skirt Tetras isn’t too hard. First, set up the tank properly, cycle it, and make sure the water is right for them.

Providing a well-maintained environment, a balanced diet, and compatible tank mates will ensure the health and well-being of Black Skirt Tetras

With the right buddies and a happy environment, your Black Skirt Tetras will thrive and add joy to your aquarium!