Penguin Tetra comes from the tributaries and rivers of South America and makes a wonderful addition to any community aquarium. They are pale to golden in color, and have a black vertical stripe that extends down the bottom half of the tail, giving an appearance similar to a penguin.
Penguin Tetra is actually two related species, Thayeria boehlkei and Thayeria obliqua. Thayeria obliqua has a shorter black line than Thayeria boehlkei, and Thayeria obliqua grows a little bigger although these are both small fish. The species most often available in aquarium shops is Thayeria boehlkei and in Australia, thet often sold as a Hockey Stick Tetra.
Penguin Tetra can be housed in an aquarium with other soft water fish. Tetras are a schooling fish that work well in groups of six or more fish of the same species. Live plants, rocks and driftwood help to enhance its natural habitat and provide hiding spaces.
Penguin Tetra is a peaceful schooling fish and A school of Penguin Tetras can usually even be kept with slow long finned fish like Siamese fighting fish, Guppies and Endlers Guppies. There is not much difference between the sexes of the Penguin Tetra, but when in breeding condition, the females get a rounder belly.
Penguin Tetras breed occasionally in an aquarium setting and a hospital or "breeding tank" will be necessary. During breeding time, the females will display a fuller looking belly, which help distinguish them from the males. Slightly acidic water and very soft water with a temperature of about 27 degrees C (81 degrees F) is best for optimal breeding habits.
Thayeria boehlkei is a prolific breeder in the sense of producing a lot of eggs. A female of this little fish with a very well rounded belly can produce as many as 3000 eggs. After the eggs begin to hatch, 12 to 15 hours after being laid, removing the parents will reduce the number of lost fry. These are very small. Partial water changes are recommended to maintain the high quality of water that the fry need.
Like many tetra fish such as cardinal tetra or neon tetra, Penguin Tetra is an easily fed omnivore. They are particularly carnivorous. The Penguin Tetra will accept many small foods such as brine shrimp or daphnia, micro pellet food, and a high quality flake food. Frozen foods, including frozen blood worms or tubifex are also appreciated.
Penguin tetras are one of the characins with a very unique feature compared to other tetras, they can swim at a 45 degree angle due to low buoyancy of their tails. In the wild, these fish lie just below the surface among dense vegetation and feed on insects falling on the surface. In both these traits they closely resemble the two pencilfish species Nannostomus eques and N. unifasciatus.
Penguin Tetra is a tropical fish and it does better in clean water and care needs to be taken with the water quality. Although Penguin Tetra is a delight in an aquarium, as with all pets, do not allow them to get into ecosystems they are not native to.
