Are you thinking of petting a Congo Tetra fish? If yes, in this article, you will get to know about all the interesting facts and information about these fishes. They look very attractive and engaging and are preferred fishes in Aquarium. They belong to the fish family of the African Tetra and can be found in Africa in the Congo river basin. They have a very gentle and peaceful nature so you can even consider keeping other fishes with them. I am sure that your guests won’t be able to keep their eyes off from these naturally beautiful fishes. Keep reading the article to know more in-depth details and facts about the CongoTetra fish.
Congo Tetra Fish
The scientific name of these fish is ‘Phenacogrammus interrupts. The unique feature of this fish is that they don’t have large scales and have a full-bodied tetra shape.
You will see that these fish have a blue color on the top which transforms into red through the middle. From the middle, the color changes to yellow gold and is again blue above its belly. The fluorescent and the trail of so many colors make this fish look very beautiful.
The other feature for which it is well known is its grayish violet feathery appendages that flow effortlessly when the fish swims across the tank.
Congo Tetra Fish Lifespan
The lifespan of these fishes is up to 3 to 5 years when kept in the aquarium with proper care and handling. In the wild habitat, they may live a little longer. If you want your fish to live longer then you must keep them in a healthy and happy environment.
Congo Tetra Fish Size
The average size of these fish is around 3 to 3.5 inches long. They usually don’t grow much when kept in the aquariums but they can reach up to a length of four and a half inches in the wild. The Congo tetra male is usually larger than the Congo Tetra female. They grow up to the size of 3 inches while females only grow 2.75 inches longer.
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Congo Tetra Food
These fishes are not choosy in terms of food. You can feed them a wide range of food items as they are omnivores.
- You can feed them the tin fish food that has dried flakes, pellets, or granules.
- It can also eat other small animals like daphnia, tubifex, bloodworms and brine shrimps, etc.
- For the boost of vitamins, you can feed them small pieces of fresh vegetables or algae.
Congo Tetra Care
These fishes are very easy to take care of and do not require anything specific.
- Always make sure that the tank water is clean and filtered.
- These fishes like to stay in little darker lights so you must keep the dim aquarium lights in the tank.
- Make sure that you keep some plants within the aquarium so that they can play and nibble around with them.
- If the water quality isn’t good they may lose their bright colors and their fins might get damaged.
- You must check the water parameters of the aquarium often to make sure that it is perfect for the fish habitat.
Congo Tetra Breeding
Do you know how do these fishes do breeding? If not then I will tell you everything about their breeding.
- Tetras lay eggs and can lay up to 500 eggs at once.
- For initiating the breeding you must raise the temperature of the tank to about 77 degrees Fahrenheit and keep a male and female together.
- You can also put some plants and breeding mops in the tank to make it easy for the fish to breed.
- Then, turn the lights off, and when you will next day see the tank you will find the fish spawning.
- After you see that the female fish has laid eggs remove both the tetra fishes from the tank.
Congo Tetra Compatibility
The good thing about the behavior of this fish is that you can keep other congo tetra tank mates. The other fishes that you can keep in the aquarium with it include red congo tetra, lamb eye congo tetra, blue congo tetra, yellow congo tetra, albino congo tetra, rainbow fish, and Corydoras catfish, etc. You should avoid keeping them with aggressive fish species and any fin-nipping fishes.
Fish Tank
- The tank in which they are kept must have 30 gallons of water. According to the number of fishes, you must keep the water and each Tetra should have at least 2 gallons of water.
- The temperature of the tank should be moderate and warm ranging between 75 to 80.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The pH level of the water should be between 6-7 and the water hardness should be measure around 12-15 dGH.
- Always use a good filter so that the perfect flow of water is maintained as that of their natural habitat.
- You must keep some live plants in the aquarium so that they feel good and comfortable in the tank.
Congo Tetra Fish Facts
Now, I will tell you some interesting quick facts and information on these tetra fishes.
- The scientific name of this fish is Phenacogrammus interrupts.
- The size of the males is up to 3 inches while the females grow smaller than the males.
- The original habitat of these fishes is River Congo and Central Africa rivers.
- The lifespan of these fishes is estimated up to 3-5 years and they might live a little longer in the natural habitat.
- They are omnivores and can eat small larvae and even some fresh vegetables.
- These fishes have peaceful and timid behavior and can live with other fishes as well.
- They lay eggs and the breeding process is quite difficult in the home or the artificial aquarium.
FAQ
Are Congo Tetras Aggressive?
No, these fishes are not aggressive and are schooling fishes. You must buy a group of 6 to 10 fishes together. They are not aggressive but they often undergo stress in school. This can cause them to do self-harm and quarrels between the fishes.
What Fish Can Live With Congo Tetras?
The fishes that can live with these Tetras are corydoras, platies, barbs, dwarf cichlids, mollies, guppies, other t and rainbowfishes, etc.
Are Congo Tetras Fin Nippers?
No, these fishes have not finned nippers and have friendly and timid behavior. They must be kept in a school with at least 6 to 8 fishes.
How Many Congo Tetras Are There?
There are many types of tetra fishes and a few of them are mentioned below.
- Neon Tetra
- Ember Tetra
- Diamond Tetra
- Cardinal Tetra
- Penguin Tetra
- Rummy Nose Tetra
How Fast Do Congo Tetras Grow?
Congo Tetras are beautiful schooling fish endemic to the Congo River Basin. They grow rapidly, reaching almost their max size in six months. Congo Tetras thrive in large tanks, with carefully filtered water and dim lights.
What Are The Easiest Tetra To Keep?
Popular beginner tetras include red eye, black skirt, serpae and bloodfins, but neons, black neons, glowlights and lemon tetras can be good choices as well. Others, like cardinals, emperors and penguin tetras are more challenging to keep and do best in well-established aquariums with softer, more acidic water.
Do Tetras Need To Eat Everyday?
You should feed your fish two to three times daily. A few flakes per fish is sufficient. The fish should eat all the food in two minutes or less.
Conclusion
Congo Tetra fish make a good and silent pet. They are really beautiful and have a spectacular array of colors and pretty fins. You can easily keep them in a group of 6 to 8 and even with other fishes. The Tetras do not have an aggressive nature which makes them ideal to be kept in a fish aquarium. The only thing that you need to make sure of is that the tank temperature, water quality, and filters are working properly. The food that these fishes eat is easily available in pet shops. If you are thinking to buy fishes for your aquarium then the Congo Tetra can be a good choice for you.
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