What tank size does a Black Phantom Tetra need?

A Black Phantom Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 75 cm (29.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Black Phantom Tetra need?

Black Phantom Tetra does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 1–18 °dGH.

What group size does a Black Phantom Tetra need?

Black Phantom Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Black Phantom Tetra suitable for beginners?

Yes — Black Phantom Tetra is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon megalopterus

Characidae

FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

📷 Citron · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Black Phantom Tetra — Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — 📷 Citron · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The black phantom tetra is a small, elegant shoaling characin from the upper Paraguay and Guaporé river basins of Brazil and Bolivia, where it inhabits still and sluggish, well-vegetated backwaters. Smoky grey with a bold black shoulder blotch ringed in iridescent blue, it is a hardy, peaceful community fish whose males stage harmless mock-battles and fin displays to establish rank.

Care

Keep a shoal of 8 or more in a well-planted tank with soft, slightly acidic water, gentle flow and some open mid-water swimming space. Peaceful with similarly sized community tankmates.

Diet

Micro-omnivore that grazes small invertebrates and organic matter in the wild; feed varied dry foods plus frequent frozen or live micro-foods for the best colour.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Black Phantom Tetra need?: A Black Phantom Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 75 cm (29.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Black Phantom Tetra need?: Black Phantom Tetra does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 1–18 °dGH.
What group size does a Black Phantom Tetra need?: Black Phantom Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Black Phantom Tetra suitable for beginners?: Yes — Black Phantom Tetra is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature22–28°C

Optimal temp.24–26°C

pH5–7.5

Hardness (GH)1–18°d

Carbonate (KH)0–10°d

Adult size4.5 cm

Min. volume≥ 75 L

Min. tank length≥ 75 cm

Group size≥ 8

Swimming zoneMid

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~5 yrs

Try in the calculator