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Phantom Tetra Megalamphodus megalopterus
Family: Characidae The Black Phantom Tetra, or Magalomphodus megolopterus, is an elegant fish will add beauty to any tank. They are attractive and hardy, which make them highly recommended for beginners, and a must for every hobbyist as well. Black Phantoms are relatively peaceful fish. They will not bother or harm any other fish in their aquarium. However, male Black Phantoms will display aggressiveness towards each other. They will stake out their territory in a ritual-like manner. This ritual consist of the males putting up their fins and circling one another until one of them submits and backs away. The Black Phantoms will never actually fight, and no harm will come from this ritual, although can be pleasing to watch. Black Phantoms will fit in any community aquarium. They like a habitat with a moderate amount of rock, driftwood and live plants. The Black Phantom Tetra will not bother live plants. These fish generally swim in the middle of the tank and should be kept in schools. The Black Phantom Tetra is relatively easy to keep and quite suitable for the beginning hobbyist. When it reaches maturity, the Black Phantom Tetra will be about two inches long. Females can be distinguished by the red pectoral and anal fins. A male Black Phantom Tetra will have smoky grey pectoral and anal fins. Black Phantoms are fairly easy to breed. Having the water at a pH of 5.9, with soft light and live food will help to entice the Black Phantom to breed. Additionally some hobbyists recommend using coconut fibre in a small breeding tank that contains approximately four inches of water inside. Then separate the pair for about an hour before putting both of them together inside the tank for breeding. Breeding. A breeding tank should be set up with abundant floating plants and dim lighting. Setting the tank up without substrate will make thee tank easier to keep clean while raising the fry. Males can be identified by their longer fins and lack of red colour. Females will have a definite red tint to the fins, and even the body, which is fuller than the males. Prior to spawning the mating pair should be conditioned with small live foods, such as mosquito larvae. Once placed in the breeding tank, feeding should be kept to a minimum. Spawning can be triggered by lowering the pH to 5.5 and dropping the hardness of the water to 4 dGH. Peat filtration is the best method to achieve the desired water parameters. Males will engage in an elaborate courtship display that ends with the female releasing up to 300 eggs. Once the eggs have been laid, the breeding pair should be removed from the tank. Fry should be fed every few hours with very small commercially prepared fry food or freshly hatched brine shrimp. After ten days they may be fed finely crushed flake foods. Water changes should be performed at least once a week.
This fish is somewhat susceptible to fish tuberculosis, otherwise the Black Phantom Tetra is a hardy fish.
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