Moderate

Black Skirt Tetra

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Complete Black Skirt Tetra care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 15 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

Black Skirt Tetra

Quick Answer

Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) is a captivating and highly sought-after freshwater species. It requires a minimum 15 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 22-26°C. As a omnivore with semi-aggressive tendencies, careful tankmate selection is essential.

Intro

Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) is a captivating and highly sought-after freshwater species. Known for their semi-aggressive nature and distinct appearance, they occupy the middle levels of the aquarium and bring dynamic energy to any setup.

Setup

Black Skirt Tetra requires a stable, well-filtered aquarium of at least 15 gallons. They thrive best with moderate water movement and a reliable heater to maintain temperatures around 22-26°C. Ensure pH levels remain consistent between 6.5 - 7.5 to prevent stress and support long-term health.

Feeding

As a omnivore, the Black Skirt Tetra is not a picky eater. They should be fed a high-quality base of flakes, sinking pellets, or wafers. Periodic supplementation with frozen or live foods, such as bloodworms or brine shrimp, will boost their health and colors.

Compatibility

Black Skirt Tetra has a semi-aggressive temperament. They are schooling fish and MUST be kept in a group of at least 6 individuals to exhibit natural schooling behavior and reduce stress. Avoid placing them with aggressive species or tankmates they are listed as incompatible with, such as: betta.

Fish Compatibility Calculator

Enter your details below for an instant recommendation.

Recommended Output

Pair status badge

--

Pair status desc

--

Temp pct val

--

Temp summary text

--

Ph pct val

--

Ph summary text

--

Space val

--

Space summary text

--

Layer emoji

--

Layer status text

--

Layer badge

--

Profile temp badge

--

Perfect list

--

Caution list

--

Incompatible list

--

Profile emoji

--

Profile name

--

Profile sci

--

Profile zone

--

Profile mintank

--

Profile temp

--

Profile ph

--

Profile note

--

Perfect count

--

Caution count

--

Incompatible count

--

Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Leaf Fish Care Guide: Diet & Tank Mates semanticSimilarity Angelfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet | The Aquarium Calculators semanticSimilarity Badis Care Guide: Tank Size & Compatibility semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Black Skirt Tetras should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 6 to 8 individuals in a tank with a footprint of 24x12 inches (60x30 cm) and volume of 20 gallons (75 liters). Black skirt tetras (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) exhibit fin-nipping and stress when kept in groups under 6. A school of 10+ reduces intra-species aggression and displays their flowing black fins. Provide open swimming areas and floating plants to diffuse light. Avoid long-finned tank mates (angelfish, bettas) as black skirts are known fin nippers. Tank length should exceed 24 inches (60 cm) for their active swimming.
What are the precise water parameters for Black Skirt Tetras?
Target pH 6.5 - 7.5, General Hardness 5 - 15 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 4 - 10 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 120 - 350 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 240 - 700 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 80°F (22°C - 27°C). They are hardy but require stable parameters; sudden shifts cause fin rot. Maintain nitrates below 20 ppm with weekly 25% water changes. Use a canister or hang-on-back filter with moderate flow. Hardness below 3 dGH leads to clamped fins. Avoid high ammonia (>0.25 ppm), which damages their delicate fins.
What is the nutritional and medication protocol for Black Skirt Tetras?
They are omnivores requiring 40% protein, 12% fat, 48% plant matter. Feed tropical flakes or micro-pellets twice daily, supplemented with frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Offer spirulina flakes twice weekly to enhance black coloration. Medication alert: Tolerate copper at 0.2 mg/L but sensitive to malachite green; use half-dose. Praziquantel is safe for internal parasites. Salt (2-3 ppt) helps treat ich but avoid prolonged exposure. Quarantine with methylene blue for fungal infections. They are susceptible to neon tetra disease; remove infected fish.
How to breed Black Skirt Tetras in captivity?
Select 6-8 mature fish (1.5 years old) and condition with live foods (blackworms, brine shrimp) for 14 days. Set up a 10-gallon (38 liter) breeding tank with 5 inches (12 cm) of water (pH 6.5, 5 dGH, 76°F/24°C), a spawning mop, and fine-leaf plants. Simulate dawn: increase light intensity gradually over 30 minutes. Spawning occurs in the morning; female lays 300-500 adhesive eggs. Remove parents after 4 hours. Eggs hatch in 24-30 hours at 78°F (25.5°C). Fry are 0.1 inch (2.5 mm); feed infusoria for 4 days, then baby brine shrimp. Raise fry in dark for first 3 days.

Related Content

fish

African Butterflyfish

Complete African Butterflyfish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Advanced.

fish

African Cichlid

Complete African Cichlid care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, aggressive temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Advanced.

fish

African Leaf Fish

Complete African Leaf Fish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

fish

African Red Eyed Tetra

Complete African Red Eyed Tetra care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

fish

Angelfish

Complete Angelfish care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

fish

Apistogramma

Complete Apistogramma care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 20 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.