Black Skirt Tetra

A hardy, deep-bodied tetra that is easy to keep but notorious for nipping long fins. Keep a full school and avoid pairing with bettas or guppies.

• Minimum footprint: 20 gallons; a 25+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: middle of the water column.
• Social — keep a group of at least 6.
• Care level: easy.

• Temperature: 72–82°F
• pH: 6–8
• Hardness: 3–15 dGH (Moderate)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

semi-aggressive

schoolingfin-nippermidwaterhardy

An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.

No outright-compatible species in our current database — check individual pairings with the compatibility tool.

• Chili Rasbora — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 25 gallons:

• 29 gallon 30 × 12 × 18″
• 30 gallon 36 × 12 × 16″
• 40 gallon Breeder 36 × 18 × 16″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 20 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (6+) before you buy.
• Activity level is moderate, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the middle zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

In-depth guides for Black Skirt Tetra:

• Black Skirt Tetra and GuppyRisky

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.