Black Darter Tetra (Poecilocharax weitzmani)
The Black Darter Tetra is a peaceful and shy fish. Unlike the majority of Tetras, these do not form into large shoals. Males are aggressive and territorial towards each other. Although it is achievable to keep a pair in an aquarium, it is better to keep them in a small group of one or two males with several females to reduce bullying.
The Black Darter Tetra is challenging to maintain and is best kept in a single species biotope tank. In an aquarium, the substrate should be soft and sandy, branches and driftwood roots should be used as cover, dried leaf litter should be used to maintain the pH, and floating plants should provide shade.
The Black Darter Tetra is a small elongated, slender-bodied fish that has the disposition of a Dwarf Cichlid and resembles a killifish. This fish has a pale orangy-brown body colour, with a strong black lateral band with neon blue holes that run from the gills to the caudal fin.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Poecilocharax weitzmani |
| Other Names | Weitzman Tetra, Black Morpho Tetra |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Characiformes |
| Family | Crenuchidae |
| Genus | Poecilocharax |
| Origins | Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 3.5 - 6.5 |
| GH | 1 - 10 |
| TDS | 0 - 90 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 75 - 82℉ 23.9 - 27.8℃ | |
Natural Habitat
Feeding
Because the Black Darter Tetra is a carnivore; it would be best if you aimed to feed your fish on a diet primarily of meaty foodstuffs such as live and/or frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, lobster eggs, cyclops, Mysis shrimp and bloodworm. Bloodworm should be used sparingly as it is hard for your fish to digest.
You can also cut up earthworms from your garden or chop up shop brought mussels, prawns, krill and fresh fish (be sure only to use fresh or frozen fish and not fish canned in oil).
You can also try your fish with dried foods formulated for predatory fish and made up of insect material such as Fluval bug bites, which can also be used to supplement the diet.
Get to know your fish and test which foods they prefere and which they ignore but always be sure not to overfeed your fish and remove excessive uneaten food whenever possible.
Sexual Dimorphism
It is relatively easy to distinguish females from males. Mature males are considerably more colourful and slightly larger than females, and their dorsal and anal fins are more extended than the females. In contrast, the females are duller, their fins are shorter, and they are smaller than the males.