Black Widow Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black widow tetras have a dark grey to silver body with black vertical bars and shading. They are an interestingly shaped fish with prominent fins.

Breeding is easy but the female will eat the eggs if not removed. A substrate of marbles or coarse gravel may protect the eggs from the parents during spawning. Fine leaved plants such as java moss will also be useful for egg concealment.

Before spawning keep the pair separate and feed extra live food. When the female is plump with eggs introduce the couple. In this way the mating is more likely to be observed so the eggs can be separated from the black widow parents.

Purchasing these fish is usually simple as most shops will stock them. The relative ease with which the black widow breeds makes them reasonably priced. Any disease is easily spotted on it's darker areas. Beware of inbred fish with hooked or otherwise deformed fins.

Family - Characidae

Size - 5-6 cm

Fish Origin - South America

Water - Maintain pH 6.8-7.5 with soft to medium hardness

Temperature - 22-26°C

Feeding - Flake and live or frozen food a few times a week

Sexing - Females are longer and swell with eggs

Breeding - Eggs are scattered but remove parents after spawning

Aquarium - Fine for the community aquarium

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