Tetra aquarium fish: photos, types, content

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Aquarium fish amaze with their diversity. Everyone can choose the best option for themselves. So, tetra fish, the photos of which are presented, are suitable for beginner aquarists or those who do not have time to devote a lot of time to pets. Adults and children enjoy watching these living, moving and bright creatures.

Short description of the species

Tetras are fish from the characin family. They do not grow more than five centimeters in length. The body may have a different shape. They live an average of five to six years. Settle them in the best flocks. Alone, their character deteriorates. They turn into aggressive individuals that attack other inhabitants of the aquarium.

When buying fish, you should look at their appearance. Individuals with even, smooth scales, without white fringe on the fins, are considered he althy.

Popular species

The variety of species of aquarium fish tetra allows you to please even the whimsical aquarist. They have similarnature and content requirements. But they differ in size, shape, colors.

Popular tetra species:

• Golden. The scales of this tetra fish cast a golden tone. This effect is created by guanine, which is contained in the skin of the animal and protects it from parasites. A dark green stripe runs along the side and widens towards the tail. The fish prefers to live in bright light with lots of floating plants.
• Red-finned. A large tetra fish, the length of which reaches ten centimeters. Its scales are silvery, and the pupil, caudal and lower fins are red. Unpretentious to water, which can have any acceptable hardness and acidity. The flock should consist of six individuals.
• Red-spotted. In some sources, an irregularly shaped red spot is called a "bleeding heart." It is located in the center of a diamond-shaped body, painted with a pink tone. The iris of the eye has a white-red color. Individuals do not like frequent water changes.
• Royal. Differs in miniature size, growing up to four centimeters. It has gorgeous colors. The back is cast in blue, purple and pink. There is a dark stripe in the center.
• Copper. Tetra fish has a dark golden tone. It looks most impressive on dark ground. Individuals do not like bright light, preferring to swim in thickets.
• Minor. The body has a length of no more than four centimeters. It is high, tapering towards the tail. The main color is orange or ruby red. There is an albino form. She has a dark pink body color and red eyes. The dorsal fin is black. A pair of minors can live in a ten-liter tank. The main thing is that the water is clean.
• Fiery. The body is slightly flattened laterally. The main color is silver. But if light falls on the scales, it is reflected with a bright fire. Three dark transverse stripes are visible behind the gills. The back and fins are reddish in tone. A couple of fish can be kept in a ten liter tank.
• Plotvich. Individuals grow up to seven centimeters. Their body is elongated, laterally flattened. Colored with a silvery tone, although the back has a yellowish tinge. There is a black diamond-shaped spot on the tail. The head and spot are connected by a silvery-white stripe. All fins, except for the pectorals, are reddish or yellowish in color. The couple will need about twenty liters of water. The length of the aquarium must be at least forty centimeters. The fish tolerate well the water temperature of +18 °C and will not die when it drops to +12 °C. However, they really need extra oxygen.
• Firefly. The body of an individual is covered with a red-orange phosphorus stripe that runs from the beginning of the head to the end of the tail. She glows in the dark. This species needs good filtration. They are very sensitive to nitrates.
• Glass. In the aquarium grow up to six centimeters. Body elongated, slightly flattened laterally, transparent. The ventral part is silvery and shiny. The caudal fin is reddish, the rest are colorless. A school of ten fish is able to live in a 20-liter tank. It is important that there are no sudden changes in water temperature. The tank itself should be covered with a lid.

There are many more species. Everyone deserves to shine in the aquarium. It all depends on the desire of the person.

Aquarium

Keeping tetra fish is a relatively easy task. But in order for them to live as long as possible and please with their appearance, it is necessary to choose a suitable aquarium for them. For a flock of ten fish, a fifty-liter tank will suffice. For a flock of twenty individuals, a hundred-liter aquarium will be required.

It is better to choose a rectangular shape. Of course, in a semi-circular tank, these small specimens are better viewed, but curved glass reflects sound waves differently. They have a bad effect on aquatic life.

Water

In their natural environment, fish live in clean waters of the forests of South America. Running tap water will not work for them. It has a high content of chlorine and other harmful impurities.

The temperature in the aquarium should be within + 23 ° С … + 28 ° С. Recommended hardness - 15-17 units, acidity - up to 7 units. Water flow needed but weak.

Liquid replacement is carried out once a week for 30% of the volume of the aquarium.

Ground

Tetras prefer to swim in green thickets with snags. Their water is saturated with oxygen. Sand is suitable as soil. From above it can be laid out with stones, snags, tree branches. Plants should be shade-loving, such as ferns.

The light should be dimmed. In an aquarium, you can not do without a filter. If it is external, you will needalso an aerator. A lot of vegetation needs oxygen at night.

Because the water needs to be warm, you will need to install a thermostat and a thermometer.

Food

Don't worry about tetra fish food. They eat plant and animal food equally well. The brightness of individuals depends on a varied diet. Bloodworms, cyclops, fruit flies are suitable as live food.

You can give dry or pelleted food from the pet store. As a prevention of beriberi, it is recommended to give crumbled boiled yolk once a week.

Pets can't forage from the ground, so it's best to get a moth box. This keeps the water clean longer.

Fish can pluck greens in the tank. So they get the necessary amount of plant food.

Compatibility

Tetras are very peaceful, they get along with any fish. But it is necessary that the neighbors have the same size and character.

The following species can become neighbors:

• scalars;
• barbs;
• swordsmen;
• mollies.

Besides the fact that they live in a flock, there should be an equal number of males and females. So there will be no competition for the "lady". However, these fish do not fight among themselves.

Breeding

Get offspring from tetra aquarium fish is quite real. To start spawning, it is necessary to gradually increase the temperature of the water and change its acidity, approachingto seven units. More larvae and crustaceans should be added to food.

Pairs in which the male shows interest in the female are placed in a separate tank. Vegetation and stones are placed at its bottom. So the offspring will be saved from being eaten. The female will lay one hundred and fifty eggs at a time.

After two or three days, fry will appear, and after four or five days they will begin to swim. Then they can be fed. For the first days, egg yolk is suitable. The original color of the young will appear in three to four days.