Silver Tetra Care Guide
Ctenobrycon spilurus is a tall silvery characin from the Orinoco basin and Guianas, an active schooling fish resembling a small silver dollar.
Overview
Ctenobrycon spilurus is a characin described by Valenciennes in 1850. FishBase places it in the family Acestrorhamphidae (American tetras). It has a tall, laterally compressed silvery body that resembles a small silver dollar, with a dark marking at the base of the caudal fin. Wikipedia lists synonyms including Tetragonopterus spilurus and Tetragonopterus gibbicervix.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acestrorhamphidae
- Genus: Ctenobrycon
- Scientific name: Ctenobrycon spilurus
- Author: Valenciennes, 1850
- Synonyms: Tetragonopterus spilurus, Tetragonopterus gibbicervix, Apodastyanax stewardsoni
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Orinoco River basin and coastal waterways of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, and Wikipedia adds Brazil and Venezuela. It occupies shallow, slow-moving streams with heavy vegetation and is a freshwater, pelagic fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F); FishBase reports a 23-27 °C range
- pH: 6.0-7.8
- GH: 5-18 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Size: 7-9 cm (FishBase max 8.0 cm SL)
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore and opportunistic feeder. FishBase reports that it consumes mainly zooplankton but also plants, worms, insects and crustaceans. In aquaria it accepts dried, frozen and live foods.
Compatibility
It is a semi-aggressive, active schooling fish of the middle water column. It can nip the fins of slow, long-finned tank mates, so it suits robust community fish such as larger tetras and medium cichlids rather than delicate species. Keeping it in a group of at least six helps spread aggression.
Breeding
Ctenobrycon spilurus is an egg-scatterer. FishBase reports that a female can produce roughly 2,000 eggs, with incubation of about 50 to 70 hours and free-swimming fry seeking food by the third day after hatching.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 4 March 2021). FishBase notes the species enters both commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade.