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Maximum size : 8 cm
Redfin Congo Tetra - Micralestes occidentalis : Complete Fish Profile & Care Guide
Table of contents
Introduction
Redfin Congo Tetras are active, peaceful, hardy and timid schooling fish suitable for beginner aquarists and community aquariums. These Tetras typically stick in large groups in the wild. Therefore, you must keep these fish in a group of at least six individuals. Keeping these Tetras in more significant numbers will make your fish more confident, resulting in a better-looking display. Ideal tankmates for Redfin Congo Tetras can include other Tetras, Dwarf Barbs, various peaceful Cichlids, Rainbowfish, Loaches and Corydoras Catfish. However, it would be best if you did not keep Congo Tetras with much larger species and more boisterous species due to their nervous nature. The ideal aquarium setup for Redfin Congo Tetras would be an African biotope design with driftwood branches, floating vegetation and Anubias. However, they will also appreciate a well-planted aquarium. In addition, these Tetras will need plenty of swimming space and prefer soft and acidic water with excellent circulation. These Tetras can get scared relatively quickly, so you should also ensure your fish have places to hide when stressed. Redfin Congo Tetras have silver bodies with bright red caudal and adipose fins. These Tetras also have transparent rayed dorsal fins with a reddish blotch whilst All their other fins are transparent.Redfin Congo Tetra Photos
Sexual Dimorphism
Unfortunately, there isn'tisn't much information regarding the sexual dimorphism of the Redfin Congo Tetras; however, males will more than likely be larger and more colourful than the females and will probably have longer finnage like other Tetra species.Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Micralestes occidentalis |
|---|---|
| Year Described | 1899 |
| Other Names | African Red-Finned Tetra |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Characiformes |
| Family | Alestidae |
| Genus | Micralestes |
| Origins | Ghana Liberia Cameroon Sierra Leone |
| Max Size | 8 cm |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
Water Parameters
| Water Type | Freshwater |
|---|---|
| PH | 5.5 - 7.5 |
| GH | 5 - 15 |
| KH | 4 - 8 |
| TDS | 150 - 250 |
| ℉ | 71 - 79 |
|---|---|
| ℃ | 21.7 - 26.1 |
Natural habitat
Redfin Congo Tetras are endemic to Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire in Africa, where you can find them in the Upper Reaches of the Niger, Volta and Congo Rivers. These Tetras inhabit murky streams, tributaries, pools, and marshes with slightly acidic water. The Redfin Congo tetra usually gathers in areas with tall vegetation and a few trees from the forest canopy above, and the substrate in their habitat comprises sand, silt, and mud.How to breed the Redfin Congo Tetra
Redfin Congo Tetras only regularly appear to be bred in the aquarium hobby since only a few details are available. However, they are egg-scattering spawners that exhibit no parental care. If you plan to breed Redfin Congo Tetras, then it is recommended that you have a separate breeding tank prepared. This tank can be empty, but you may include a mesh or grid on the bottom to catch the fertilised eggs. A layer of marbles will also suffice. These fish will require aquatic plants such as java moss to scatter their eggs; spawning mops will work just as well. Redfin Congo Tetras will breed in a community aquarium; if the aquarium is well planted, some fry may survive to adulthood. The female will swim actively around the tank, and if you add two males, they will encourage her to lay her eggs by bumping into her; however, just a male and a female are advised. The female will then lay her eggs which the males will fertilise straight away, and they will drop down to the bottom of the tank. Spawning typically occurs in the early morning and is triggered by the sunrise. Once spawning is complete, remove the adults, who will likely consume the eggs if given a chance. A mature female may lay anything up to 300 eggs. It would be best to keep the lights off and the tank dark because Tetra eggs and fry are susceptible to light. The eggs will usually hatch in around thirty-six hours, depending on the temperature in the tank and the water conditions, and then the fry will become free-swimming around four to five days after that. So keeping the tank unlit for the first week would be better than gradually increasing the lighting. The newly hatched fry will feed first on their yolk sac but once free-swimming, they can be fed infusoria and rotifers. After hatching, the fry seems quite vigorous; however, it will go into a dormant phase before they become free-swimming. After about four days, you can then add baby brine shrimp and microworm. Once the fry is sufficient in size and is not mistaken as a snack, you can then introduce them to the community aquarium, where they will accompany the existing shoal.Diet & feeding
In the home aquarium, the Redfin Congo Tetra will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish'sfish's health and dietary requirements. Additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide other benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish. It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages. This fish is an omnivore in the wild, consuming some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods consider this and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish'sfish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.Other Tetras you maybe interested in
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