Animal-World > Aquarium Tropical Fish > Characins > X-Ray Fish

X-Ray Fish

Golden Pristella Tetra

Family: CharacidaePristella maxillarisPhoto © Animal-World Courtesy Steve Foss

   A perky little fish, the X-Ray Fish is social, friendly, and very easy to care for!

   The pretty little X-Ray Fish, also called the Golden Pristella Tetra, is an excellent fish for the beginner. It is extremely hardy and undemanding. It is not at all choosy in its water type, probably because it is found naturally in both brackish water as well as soft water. It can even withstand very hard water, though it does do its best in soft.

   Its easy to keep in other respects as well, being a peaceful community member as well as being fairly prolific in breeding. It is also a very active schooling fish, but it is harmless to other fish and plants. A dark substrate and subdued lighting will show the X-Ray Fish best and enhance its colors. It will not get its full color in hard water or under bright light.

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

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The X-Ray Fish or Golden Pristella Tetra was described by Ulrey in 1894. They are found in South America in Venezuela, British Guyana, lower Brazilian Amazon, Orinoco, and coastal river drainages of the Guianas. They inhabit coastal waters that are often brackish and densely vegetated swamps where they feed on worms, small crustaceans, and insects.

• Scientific Name: Pristella maxillaris
• Social Grouping: Groups
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

   The X-Ray Fish or Golden Pristella Tetra is a deep-bodied tetra species. It has a silvery to yellowish body, a large spot on the dorsal and anal fin, and a reddish tail. The dorsal and anal fins start out with a yellow stripe, changing to a black stripe, and finally end up with a white tip. Very striking.
   An albino variety has also been developed and is also popular. It has pink eyes and pink spots, but a more washed out general body coloration. It is even easier to breed than the natural X-Ray Fish, which may be why it is also popular.

• Maximum Size: 1.8 inches (4.45 cm)

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivorous the The X-Ray Fish or Golden Pristella 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.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

• Water Changes: Bi-weekly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gal (57 L) - A fifteen gallon is the smallest size that could house the small school this fish requires to be comfortable.
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 74.0 - 82.0° F (23.3 - 27.8° C)
• Range ph: 6.0-8.0
• Hardness Range: 2 - 30 dGH
• Brackish: Sometimes
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: All

Social Behaviors

   The X-Ray Fish or Golden Pristella Tetra are very peaceful and a good community fish.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Same species - conspecifics: Yes
• Peaceful fish (): Safe
• Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
• Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
• Plants: Safe

Sex: Sexual differences

   The male is more slender with a sharply pointed swim bladder. The female is more rounded and you can actually see the eggs in a mature female.

Breeding / Reproduction

   The The X-Ray Fish or Golden Pristella Tetra fish are egg layers. The female will spawn 300-400 eggs. The hard part is finding a compatible pair since they seem to be picky about who their partner is and sometimes the male is just unresponsive. Other than that they are easy to breed. See the general description of egg laying fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Breeding: Moderate - It may take several attempts before a compatible breeding pair is established.

Availability

   The The X-Ray Fish or Golden Pristella Tetra is readily available.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: David Brough, CFS

Lastest Comments on X-Ray Fish View all 19 comments on X-Ray Fish Add Your Comment

Anonymous - 2010-01-18 I just got 3 of these fish today, and I call them little taxi's. yasmine - 2010-02-24 Why did you call them fish taxis, but anyways I bought ten of them. Reply

Learth Hoch - 2010-10-26 I have had my pristella tetras, Sushi, Sashimi, and Sailboat, for almost 3 weeks now. They are my first fish, and they are very hardy, very tolerant fish! They are active swimmers, and oh so very cute. :D I'm thinking about getting 2 or 3 more to swim with them in my 15 gallon, since they are schooling fish. And another thing--these little buggers are FAST! When I try to catch them when I clean the aquarium, they dart away surprisingly quickly. I call them, 'The Secret Society' hahaha. I love my pristellas. :D bev - 2011-01-23 I have 3 in my tank they are beautiful lil fish :) I keep them with white widows, black phantoms, red fin colombians, lemon albino, harlequins, glowlights, platys, pepper and albino corys, khuli loach, golden loach, a black common plec and a sailfin plec. They all get on together really well :D Reply

RWS - 2008-02-18 A very detailed article. Below is another sample of x-ray fish (transparent or glass fish). rwsphoto.blogspot.com/2008/02/tropical-transparent-fish-glass-fish-x.html Reply

poop - 2010-05-07 I have 4 I used to have 5 but 1 died like 2 weeks after I got it. Charlie Roche - 2011-04-25 I am sorry that the one died. You must be doing a good job though or the others might have gotten ill also. Good luck with them. Reply

Kasey - 2009-11-28 I love my pristela tetra. At first I bought 2 of them, they love my 10 gallon tank. Anonymous - 2010-03-11 cool! so now your fish have a date? Reply

someone - 2010-02-15 THANK you very much, this site is very helpful for my A-Z book of animals for my Homework. This site ROCKS! somebody - 2010-02-26 I use it to for my homework it rocks Reply

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