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Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Alestidae
📍 Congo River Basin, Africa
The Congo tetra is a large, spectacular African tetra. Males develop long flowing fins with a central extension and display an iridescent sheen of blue, gold, and orange across the flanks. A schooling fish that looks magnificent in large planted tanks.
Care Guide
Diet
Congo tetras are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flake foods, small pellets, and regular supplements of frozen foods like bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Feed small portions once daily, offering only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes. Occasional spirulina-based foods enhance their coloration.
Behavior
Congo tetras are active, peaceful schooling fish that display their best colors and behavior when kept in groups of 8 or more. Males exhibit striking iridescent blue, gold, and orange hues with extended fins, especially during social interactions. They prefer the mid-water zone and are generally non-aggressive toward other peaceful species.
Breeding
Breeding Congo tetras in captivity is challenging and rarely successful in home aquariums. They require very specific conditions including soft, acidic water, dense vegetation for egg scattering, and careful separation of parents post-spawning to prevent egg consumption. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-caught or commercially bred in specialized facilities.
Tank Mates
Similar size, peaceful temperament, and identical water parameter requirements make them ideal schooling companions
Comparable size and peaceful nature; both thrive in soft, slightly acidic water in planted tanks
Peaceful dwarf cichlid with similar water requirements; avoid overstocking to prevent territorial disputes
Small, peaceful algae-eaters that occupy bottom zones and pose no threat to tetras
Generally compatible but larger Congo tetras may occasionally nip at shrimp; provide dense vegetation for refuge
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects
Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 teaspoon per 5 gallons) or commercial ich medication for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, reduce stocking density, treat with antibacterial medication if severe; ensure temperature stays 23-27°C
Neon Tetra Disease
Loss of coloration, curved spine, erratic swimming, white stripe along lateral line
No cure exists; isolate affected fish to prevent spread, maintain pristine water conditions, remove deceased fish immediately
Bacterial Infection
Torn fins, open sores, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, behavioral changes
Perform 50% water change, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, maintain optimal water parameters and temperature
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – flake, pellets, daphnia, bloodworms, spirulina
- lifespan
- 3–5 years
- max size
- 8.5 cm (3.4 in)
- tank size
- 40 gallons minimum
- school size
- 8+
- temperament
- Peaceful, schooling
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 3–15 dGH
- temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)