Penguin Tetra
Thayeria boehlkei
Characidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The penguin tetra is a fast, upper-level characin from the upper Amazon in Peru and the Araguaia in Brazil, instantly recognisable by the black band that runs the length of the body and drops into the extended lower lobe of the tail - the marking that earned it the trade name hockey stick tetra. Almost every fish sold as a penguin tetra is this species, Thayeria boehlkei, rather than the true T. obliqua. It reaches a genuine 7.5 cm and habitually hangs at a nose-up angle near the surface.
Care
Keep a group of at least 8, ideally 10-12, in 80 L or more with a base of 80 cm and open swimming space in the upper half. Small groups turn nippy, so avoid bettas, angelfish and veil-tailed livebearers. An accomplished jumper: a tight lid is not optional.
Diet
Surface-feeding micropredator; dry foods are accepted readily, but frozen or live bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia are what keep colour and condition up.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (101)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAmano ShrimpAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue Velvet ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBrichard's TeleogrammaBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterClown KillifishClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidCongo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferElephantnose FishEmber TetraEmerald CoryEmperor TetraFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight TetraGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidKribensisKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLemon TetraLittle CorydorasMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMystery SnailOtocinclusPeaceful BettaPictus CatfishPlatyPolka Dot LoachPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRosy TetraRummynose TetraSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSerpae TetraSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraStriped KribensisT-Bar CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbUmbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo Loach
Possible with care (126)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAltum AngelfishAngelfishAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Bladder SnailBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Buenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChili RasboraChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiCobalt Blue ZebraColombian Ramshorn SnailCompressiceps CichlidConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidGerman Blue RamGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden JulieGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraGuppyHeckel DiscusHongi CichlidJack DempseyJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLeopard DanioMaingano CichlidMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMedaka RicefishMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOdessa BarbPanda CorydorasParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeacock CichlidPearl DanioPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoRusty CichlidSailfin MollySalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailTaiwan Reef CichlidThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowZebra DanioZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (44)
Adonis PlecoBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiLivingstoniMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyStriped Raphael CatfishTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidTropheusVenustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf Cichlid
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.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Penguin Tetra need?
- A Penguin Tetra needs an aquarium of at least 80 litres (21.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Penguin Tetra need?
- Penguin Tetra does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–8 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.
- What group size does a Penguin Tetra need?
- Penguin Tetra is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Penguin Tetra suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Penguin 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
pH5.5–8
Hardness (GH)2–20°d
Carbonate (KH)1–14°d
Adult size7.5 cm
Min. volume≥ 80 L
Min. tank length≥ 80 cm
Group size≥ 8
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~5 yrs
Try in the calculator