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Congo Tetra
SKU 16065
$16.95
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4 payments of $4.24 with
Price incl. GST (15%) $2.21
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Dunedin 105 Cumberland Street
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Congo Tetra
Product Details
Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus)
Overview: The Congo Tetra is a showstopper and the undisputed royalty of the African tetra family. While many tetras are small and subtle, the Congo Tetra is large, robust, and breathtakingly beautiful. Its body features a stunning, iridescent rainbow gradient: a metallic blue-green on top that transitions into a glowing orange-gold strip along the middle, and a silvery-purple belly. The males are especially prized for their long, flowing, feathery fins, which develop a distinct white trim and extended middle rays on the tail as they mature.
Origins: Unlike most popular tetras that come from South America, the Congo Tetra is native to Central Africa, specifically the central Congo River Basin. They inhabit slow-moving, soft, and slightly acidic jungle streams that are heavily shaded by the dense rainforest canopy.
Personality: Congo Tetras are active, peaceful, and tightly cohesive schoolers. They are powerful, fast swimmers that love to dominate the middle layers of the water column. While they are peaceful community fish, they can be a bit timid and easily startled by sudden movements or loud noises if their school is too small. They take a bit longer to reach full maturity and display their ultimate, exhibition-level colors, but the wait is entirely worth it.
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Care Level: Easy to Intermediate (They require pristine water to maintain their spectacular fins)
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Temperament: Peaceful but active
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Diet: Omnivore (Quality flakes, floating pellets, and a high proportion of frozen or live foods like bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp to bring out their best coloration)
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Max Size: Males up to 8 – 10 cm; females are slightly smaller (around 6 – 7 cm) and less colorful
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Family: Alestidae
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Tank Size: 150 – 200 Litres minimum (Because of their large adult size and high-energy swimming, they need plenty of open horizontal space)
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Temperature: 23°C – 28°C
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pH: 6.0 – 7.5 (They prefer soft, slightly acidic water)
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Should be kept in groups? Yes. They are strictly shoaling fish and must be kept in a group of at least 6 to 8. For the absolute best display, ensure you have at least two or three males in the group—they will playfully "spar" and display their incredible fins to impress the females, creating a swirling spectacle of color.
Pro Tip: Never keep Congo Tetras with notorious fin-nipping fish (like Tiger Barbs or Serpae Tetras). The gorgeous, flowing fin filaments of the male Congo Tetras are an easy target and will quickly be shredded by boisterous tank mates.
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