Penguin Fish (Thayeria boehlkei)

The Penguin Fish or Thayeria boehlkei is just one of the many different species of Tetra fish.  Tetras are from the Characidae family, and can be distinguished from other fish by the presence of a small adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fins.  They all originate in the tropical freshwaters of the Africa, Central America and South America.

Penguin Fish go by a few different names including Blackline Penguinfish, Blackline Thayeria, Hockey-Stick Tetra, and Penguin Tetra.  These fish are small, only growing to about 3" in length.  They are the perfect starter fish, able to survive in the following water conditions, 64-82° F, KH 4-8 and pH 5.8-8.5.  Penguin Fish work well in a group of six or more, and are great for a community fish tank.  They will accept a variety of foods, and are very eager feeders making them one of the easiest freshwater aquarium fish to care for.  Providing them with live plants and plenty of hiding spaces will keep them happy, and stress free.  You can see how the Penguin Fish would look swimming in your tank in the video below. 
 

It is possible to breed Penguin Fish in an aquarium setting.  Slightly acidic water is said to help encourage the breeding process.  The female's belly will grow larger and she will eventually lay her eggs.  It only takes about 15 hours for the eggs to hatch, and then the baby fry should be separated from their parents or risk being eaten.

If you have any additional information about the Penguin Fish please leave us a comment below. 

       

Vampire Tetra (Hydrolycus scomberoides)

Like something out a fishy nightmare the Vampire Tetra or Hydrolycus scomberoides has extra long sharp teeth that protrude out of its mouth like that of a vampire. They use the two largest fangs to impale their unsuspecting prey with amazing speed!  Also know as the Sabertooth Tetra or Payara, this freshwater fish can be kept in an aquarium and can grow to be VERY large. Under the right conditions, these fish can grow to several feet in length and weigh in at over 30lbs! They are not the easiest to care for and require lots of filtration and regular water changes, as well as lots of live foods. Vampire Tetra are of the tropical variety and require a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees in an aquarium of 100 gallons or more.   These fish originate from South America where they are caught in the waters of the amazon basin. 

Like the Piranha and Snakehead, one of the best parts of owning this type of aggressive carnivorous fish is feeding time!  Here is some footage of the Vampire Tetra being fed goldfish.


If you have any additional information about the Vampire Tetra please leave us a comment below.

Splash Tetra (Copeina arnoldi)

The Splash Tetra or Copeina arnoldi is a freshwater fish that is best known for its elaborate mating ritual. The male and the female will leap out of the water together and attach themselves to low hanging vegetation. In a matter of seconds, they release the eggs and drop back down into the water. They will repeat this process numerous times until 300 or so eggs are laid. After this, the male will periodically splash the eggs with his tail in order to keep them moist. This continues for a couple days until the fry hatch and fall into the water. This entire process is all well documented in the video below...



Now that you know how Splash Tetra get their names, you can learn a little more about these amazing freshwater fish. They are also known as the Jumping Characin or Spraying Tetra, and have an elongated body which is normally an olive green or brown with a white underbelly. This species of Tetra has a stripe that is barely darker than its body color that runs from its gill cover to its caudal fin. There is another thinner copper band that runs just above the darker stripe. Males of this species tend to have a bit longer fins that are more colorful with red and black outlines then their female counterparts. The bizarre mating ritual and the peaceful temperament of this fish makes it a favorite among aquarium lovers. The following water conditions in a tank of 30 gallons or more is acceptable, 73-79° F, KH 4-8, and pH 5.0-8.0. The Splashing Tetra is not a picky eater and will accept brine shrimp, bloodworms, tubiflex, pellet food and flake food. If you have any tips for caring for Splashing Tetra fish please share!

Serpae Tetra

The Serpae Tetra or Hyphessobrycon callistus is a great community freshwater aquarium fish due to its peaceful temperament. This type of fish is fairly easy to care for in a smaller tank. This should be kept in schools of 6 or more or they can become slightly aggressive and are known to nip each others fins. They feed on flakes, brine shrimp and some pellet food too. Their striking red, orange and black coloration makes them stand out from the crowd. These fish can only grow to about 1-1/2" but can live up to 8 years old. They should be kept at temperatures of 70 to 82 degrees. This fish is also known as the Red Minor Serpae Tetra or Jewel Tetra.

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