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.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
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.
Silver Tetra (Ctenobrycon spilurus) Breeding Guide
Overview
Ctenobrycon spilurus, the silver tetra, is a tall, silvery-grey characin from the Orinoco basin and the coastal river basins of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, also recorded from Brazil and Venezuela. It inhabits shallow, slow-moving streams with heavy vegetation and reaches about 8 cm. It is a productive egg-scattering species that gives no parental care.
Sexing
Males show a glow of red in the rear portion of the anal fin. Females in spawning condition are rounder and heavier-bodied. The species can also show some black at the base of the caudal fin and occasionally a small dark spot near the gill cover.
Conditioning
This is an active, voracious tetra that feeds on zooplankton in nature as well as plants, worms, insects and crustaceans. Condition the breeding fish on a varied, protein-rich diet in a roomy, well-filtered tank.
Breeding Setup
- A spacious spawning tank suited to a robust, semi-aggressive tetra.
- Soft, slightly acidic to neutral water within the species range (recorded around 23-27 C).
- Vegetation or fine-leaved plants reflecting its natural well-planted habitat, with a protective base for the eggs.
- Gentle filtration.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The species scatters eggs among vegetation. An adult female produces around 2,000 eggs in a single spawning. Because the species is prolific and the adults provide no care, removing the parents after spawning protects the large egg batch.
Egg & Fry Care
The eggs are incubated for a period of about 50 to 70 hours. After the third day the fry begin to actively search for food, so suitable first foods such as infusoria and, as they grow, newly hatched brine shrimp should be available.