Penguin Tetra

Penguin tetras (Thayeria boehlkei) are a popular freshwater fish known for their distinctive black stripe running from the midsection to the lower part of the tail. They’re peaceful, active, and relatively easy to care for, making them a great choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists. Here’s a guide to their care in an aquarium:

1. Tank Setup

• Tank Size: A minimum of 60 liters is recommended, especially for a small school of Penguin tetras (6-10 fish). They are active swimmers, so a longer tank is preferable to give them plenty of room.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 22–28°C
  • pH: 6.0–8.0
  • Hardness: 5–20 dGH (soft to moderately hard water)
• Filtration: Use a good filter to maintain clean water, but avoid excessive water flow. Penguin tetras enjoy calm water, and strong currents may stress them.
• Lighting: Moderate lighting is best. Too bright lighting may make them uncomfortable as they tend to like slightly dimmed, shaded areas.
• Substrate and Decor: They appreciate a natural environment, so a dark substrate with live or artificial plants, driftwood, and rocks works well. Plants also help provide hiding spots, though they will swim in the open most of the time.

2. Diet

• Omnivorous: Penguin tetras will eat a variety of foods, including high-quality flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms.
• Feeding Frequency: Feed them small amounts 2-3 times a day. Make sure all food is consumed in a couple of minutes to prevent excess waste in the tank.

3. Behavior and Tank Mates

• Peaceful and Schooling: Penguin tetras are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6 to promote natural schooling behaviour and reduce stress. In larger groups, they exhibit more interesting behaviour.
• Tank Mates: They are peaceful and do well with other small to medium-sized community fish like other tetras, rasboras, guppies, and corydoras catfish. Avoid aggressive or very large fish that may bully or eat them.

4. Water Maintenance

• Weekly Water Changes: Perform weekly water changes of around 25% to maintain water quality and prevent the buildup of harmful substances like ammonia and nitrates.
• Water Testing: Regularly test the water for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels, especially in a newly established tank.

5. Breeding

• Penguin tetras are egg layers. To breed them, you may need a separate breeding tank with slightly softer and more acidic water (pH around 6.0). Provide fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop for the female to deposit eggs. The parents may eat the eggs, so it’s best to remove the adults after spawning.

By maintaining proper water conditions, offering a varied diet, and keeping them in a peaceful community, Penguin tetras will thrive and add a lot of beauty and movement to your aquarium.