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Black Phantom Tetra

Family: Characidae

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Hyphessobrycon megalopterus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   With 'mock' battles between males, the attractive Black Phantom Tetra is one of the most interesting fish to keep!

   Not only is the Black Phantom Tetra a very hardy and popular fish, it is also a most curious fish. If two males are kept together they will have 'mock' battles, fortunately they do not injury each other. Another curiosity is that the males are not quite as strikingly colored as the females. But they both have the typical "tetra" shape. This shape is oval from the side view and compressed laterally.

   This attractive tetra is one of the easiest fish to keep. It is very active and can be kept in pairs or in schools. It is also very peaceful with its tank mates and a prolific breeder. The Black Phantom Tetra doesn't require exacting water conditions in order to thrive. It is much less demanding of its environment than its cousin, the Red Phantom Tetra Megalamphodus sweglesi, which is similar in appearance but has a redish tinge to its body..

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Dream Aquarium Build your own aquarium The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

Distribution:
   The Black Phantom Tetra was described by Eigenmann in 1915. They are found in South America in upper Paraguay and Guaporé River basins, Rio San Francisco and central Brazil. They feed on worms, small insects and crustaceans.

Status:
   The species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The Black Phantom Tetra males are not quite as strikingly colored as the females. But they both have the typical "tetra" shape. This shape is oval from the side view and compressed laterally. These fish have a large black patch behind the gills but in front of the dorsal fin and the anal fin is edged in black. The tailfin and the dorsal fins start out gray near the body, but quickly fade into large black areas.

Size - Weight:
   These fish get up to 1.75 inches (4.5 cm).

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous the Black Phantom Tetra will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 1-18° dGH ( 10° preferred)
   Ph: 6.0 to 7.5 (6.5 preferred)
   Temp: 72-82° F (22-28°)

Social Behaviors:
   They are generally a good community fish that can be kept in schools, or in pairs. If two males Black Phantom Tetra are kept together they will act as if they are fighting but will not actually hurt each other.

Sexual Differences:
   The female is more beautifully colored with red adipose, pectoral, and anal fins. The male is more of a smoky gray color and his dorsal fin is larger than the females'.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Recommended conditions: pH 5.5 - 6.0, below 4° dGH, low light levels.
   The Black Phantom Tetras are egg layers and very easy to breed. The eggs are very susceptible to fungus, however, and so should have very little light.

Buy Black Phantom Tetras From LiveAquaria.com

See the description of egg laying fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
   The Black Phantom Tetra is readily available and is inexpensive.

Author: David Brough, CFS

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Latest Comments
I bought two male Black Phantom Tetras a while ago, and at first, they terrified me with their mock battles. I thought they were going to kill eachother! When I found out that they were just playing, I was able to enjoy them a lot more. They are very nice fish and make my tank look very active and beautiful! They especially enjoy their weekly treats of bloodworms and brine shrimp! Fish Lady 2007-05-17
Great community fish to have and if I may add are very hardy. The first one I bought was about 3 years ago when I still had my 10 gallon and it has undergone 4 tank transfers, surviving the cycling processes for all of them and It's still with me today, currently in a 38 gallon along with 1 Angel, 3 other Black Phantoms, 2 female Bettas, 2 Peppered Corydoras, and 1 Serpae Tetra. Adam 2007-05-14
Just got a few phantoms for my tank, and must say they are full of surprises. They all have undergone a colour change; the bodies being almost black whilst the colour has gone from their fins. All still healthy and peaceful, though. Iam Me 2007-02-26
Great fish, best feed them with live foods to bring out there colour Dan McPherson 2006-06-24
We have kept Phantoms many times. They are easy going interesting fish. almost playfull. Our small 9 gallon tank has been fine for them until recently. We added 6 tiger barbs and 2 weeks later 6 neon tetras making 21 fish including the 6 phantoms (we refresh 2 gallons of RO water every week). The Phantoms have now become rather shy hidding at the back behind some wood and grass. allan wadsworth 2005-01-23
Some of the coolest comments:
These tetras are beautiful, and in my experiene much less picky than others. Will apdapt easily to many healthy foods and peacful spececies. Many see them as dull, but with adequate lighting, they sparkle. For best overall appearence, keep with contrasting foliage such as the Java Fern. Overall my favorite fish group in the tank. Barbara 2003-11-08

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