LONGFIN WHITE SKIRT TETRA

There is no such thing as a wild LONGFIN WHITE SKIRT TETRA; the White Skirt is a variation of the Black Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) and is only bred in captivity. The Black Tetra inhabits the Paraguay and Guapore Basins in South America. In these habitats, they prefer still and slow-moving waterways, and tend to congregate in shady areas under dense foliage. They feed on insects, worms, and crustaceans that they find on the surface of the water. White Skirt Tetras are not an endangered species as they are bred in captivity.

This species is a color variation of the popular Black Widow/ Black Tetra. They achieve their mature size of two inches at approximately one year of age. A number of long-finned and color varieties have been produced, some of which are artificially colored. Most notable of the color variations are the pastel blue and pink varieties, which are achieved via dyes. They may be sold under names such as Strawberry Tetra, Blueberry Tetra, or Rainbow Tetra. Any fish that may have been artificially colored should be avoided. Fish dying is harmful and shouldn’t be supported.