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White Tetra

Goldskirt Tetra

Family: CharacidaeGymnocorymbus ternetzi

   The White Tetra or Goldskirt Tetra is not only a good fish for the beginner, but a school of these fish are really striking in a community aquarium!

   A very commonly available fish, the White Tetra or Goldskirt Tetra is a strain of fish developed from the Blackskirt Tetra. Like its predecessor it is very hardy, undemanding, and easily bred. It is also very active and fast moving, but with a tendency towards fin nipping. Because of this it should not be kept with smaller fishes, but will do very well in a community tank with larger fishes.

   The White Tetras like a well lit tank with dense areas of bunched low vegetation, which leaves lots of open areas for swimming. Being a schooling fish they will appreciate the company of their own kind, a standard school is made up of about 7 fish. They also like a well lit tank with dense areas of bunched low vegetation which will leave lots of open areas to swim in. They are hardy at 70° F to 90° F, but are prone to develop ick if kept in colder temperatures.

   Along with a longfin or hifin version of the White Tetra, various strains have been developed that have a natural pink or blue coloration and called the Colored Skirt Tetra. These fish are often artificially dyed in various pastels colors and sold as Colored Tetras, or under various colored names such as the Blueberry Tetra, Strawberry Tetra, or Rainbow Tetra.

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

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The BlackSkirt Tetra was described by Boulenger in 1895. They are found in South America in Paraguay and Guapore Basins where they inhabit the upper layers of the water feeding on worms, small crustaceans and insects. Many are captive bred for the aquarium industry and the White Tetra or Goldskirt Tetra is a captive bred color morph.

• Scientific Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
• Social Grouping: Groups
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed - There are no wild populations of this color morph.

Description

   The White Tetra is a deep-bodied species and laterally compressed. It is distinguished by what appears to be overly developed dorsal and anal fins. These make it appear as if though it has a "skirt", with most of its mass on the bottom half of the body. It is very light, almost transparent looking and lacks the black stripes of its parentage.

• Maximum Size: 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) - Will breed at 1.5 inches.

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivorous the White Tetra or Goldskirt 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)
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 70.0 - 79.0° F (21.1 - 26.1° C)
• Range ph: 5.5-8.0
• Hardness Range: 3 - 30 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: Middle

Social Behaviors

   They are active and can be semi-aggressive fin nippers. They should be kept in a community aquarium with fish the same size or larger. With age they become a more sedentary fish.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive - This fish should be kept in groups of at least five.
• Same species - conspecifics: Yes
• Peaceful fish (): Monitor
• Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
• Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
• Plants: Safe

Sex: Sexual differences

   The male's dorsal fin is more narrowed and more pointed. Also, the male's frontal portion of the "skirt" or anal fin is noticeably broad while the female's "skirt" tends to run parallel to the stomach line. A mature female is also more plump.

Breeding / Reproduction

   The White Tetra or Goldskirt Tetra are egg layers. See the description of how to breed these fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Breeding: Moderate

Availability

   The White Tetra or Goldskirt Tetra is readily available and is inexpensive.

References

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

Authors: David Brough, CFS and Clarice Brough, CFS

• Skirt Tetra : $4.49

Skirt Tetra Offered By: PetsMart Price: $4.49

Lastest Comments on White Tetra View all 10 comments on White Tetra Add Your Comment

Fish lady - 2011-11-26 I have the skirted tetra that are dyed and there is nothing wrong with having them they are really colorful and everyone who comes to my house loves them. I don't think I would like them as much if they didn't have their very beautiful color. So there is nothing wrong with having dyed ones. I have had a fish aquarium for about 5 years and all my fish have done very well with them. Charlie Roche - 2011-11-28 Thank you. Reply

kimi - 2011-05-02 I'm doing a fish project for school and I bought 3 white tetras. I feed them "tropical fish flakes" and have lots of plants in the tank. They seem to love it! Charlie Roche - 2011-05-02 Hey, sounds like your project is going to be fun. What is it? Sounds like you have set up a nice tank and are enjoying it. Good for you. Reply

Dwayne Williamson - 2010-06-17 I have had a breeding pair for a tear, males are usually smaller with a more rounded anal fin and female usually larger with more rounded body and pointed dorsal fin. They are breeding at the moment which requires a chicken wire isolation pen with 10mm holes so the eggs can be laid, fall through the holes so the parents don't eat the eggs, which they will. It also pays to plant fine leaved plants, fake or real, directly under isolation pen as the eggs are sticky and will attach themselves to plants as they fall through the pen. Keep temp around 26 to 28 degrees. Feed fry on just hatched brine shrimp and finely ground flake food for 4 weeks. Eggs will take a day to hatch. hansgarcia - 2010-07-15 How can you distinguish which is the male and which is the female? Reply

Fish lover - 2007-03-31 I bought 3 white skirt tetras in the petshop near our house and i think they were happy to be with me! I placed them in a 60 gallon tank with 3 swordtails, 2 molly, and 2 tiger barbs. These fish were perfect for a beginner. When i placed them in the tank, the tiger barbs were always chasing them, but i think they are happy whenever they were chased and i have learned that they do not allow other fishes to chase them. I do not know which is the boy nor the girl because whenever i look at them they always hide from me. A perfect fish for a community tank! Tetra Girl - 2010-06-07 Thanks! I JUST got 3 white skirt tetras, and 3 red eye tetras. They get along amazingly! I've never had fish before, and they are doing great, so for any new begginners, get the white skirt tetras! Reply

Mick - 2006-07-15 I had bought ones of these about six months ago along with a few neon tetras. About one month ago I moved to my college which was a three to four hour drive and they survived wonderfully! no ick or any other stress related disease. but I wanted to add a Bala Shark to my collection and when I did the Goldskirt Tetra became very aggressive and continuously torments the Shark which is quite larger than itself. Reply

barbs - 2005-12-23 i kept these a while back. they are gorgeous and generally friendly. i had a small bout of ich, but they all recovered (i caught it at an early stage). they nibble on plants, but its not really a problem. give them the varied diet they deserve. They look cute with their relatives the blackskirt tetras. PLEASE ***DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ARTIFICIALLY DYED VARIETIES, IT IS AN EMBARASSING CULT IN AQUARIA THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER STARTED. PLEASE DONT ENCOURAGE BREEDERS TO CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE, IT IS MORALLY BANKRUPT AND VERY STRESSFUL TO THE FISH. good luck! Reply

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