| Common Name | Black Phantom Tetra
|
| Species/genus | Megalamphodus megalopterus
|
| Keeping | Colourful, hardy and peaceful fish. This
is a good beginner's fish. These are schooling fish and better kept in groups of
6 or more. They can adopt to varying water conditions, but prefer neutral to soft
waters. They are best kept in planted tanks with plenty of swimming space. They are
egg scatterers and fairly easy to breed. Pairing takes place if kept in groups.
Female has red anal fins and Males have black and gray fins. They take all dried
foods but diet should be supplemented with live food for best results.
|
| Breeding | They are fairly easy to breed.
You need a 10G long tank. Condition the male and female by introducing them into
the breeding tank with a glass partition. Water has to be kept soft and at least
one hour of direct sun light should fall on the tank. Breeding tank should have
plants at the bottom or a nylon wire mesh net so that the eggs can drop below
the net.
This will prevent the parents from eating the eggs. Feed them well with live
foods for three or four days. Then one morning before dawn remove the partition,
spawning takes place with in a day or so. Spawning may last a few hours, then remove
the male and female from the breeding tank.
The fry hatch after a couple of days and tiny fry need Infusoria or liquid fry
food. After two weeks they can take freshly hatched brine shrimps. Filtration is
not required during the first two weeks, but water must be changed partly using
the small air tube as hose with a nylon mesh net at the end.
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| Origin | Temp | Water | Temper
| Size | Tank | Food | Breeding
|
| Amazon | 73-86 °F | Soft to Neutral
| Peaceful, Community | 1-2 inch | 20 Gallon
| All, Worms | Fairly Easy, Egg scatterer
|
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