Ctenobrycon spilurus

Silver tetra
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Characidae
Genus:	Ctenobrycon
Species:	C. spilurus
Binomial name
Ctenobrycon spilurus (Valenciennes, 1850)

Ctenobrycon spilurus, the silver tetra, is a species of tropical freshwater fish sometime referred to as the silver dollar tetra. It is a member of the family Characidae in the order Characiformes. The fish is native to the Orinoco River basin and coastal river basins of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, as well as Brazil and Venezuela, and can be found in shallow slow moving streams with heavy vegetation. With temperatures that range from 23–27 °C (73–81 °F). The fish can grow to a maximum length of 8.0 cm (3+1⁄4 in).

Description

Silver tetras have a silvery-gray color and a round flattened body, with the occasional slight olive green cast. There is some black at the base of their caudal fin. Some have a small dark spot near their gill covers. The only relieving bit of color is a glow of red in the rear portion of the anal fin (only in males). The dorsal fin is fairly short. It has a small mouth with enlarged lips.

In the aquarium

Commercially breed silver tetras are good for beginners. They are very active in daylight hours. The fish prefers a heavily planted aquarium with dim light. But an aquarium with plastic plants with driftwood will do too. As long as the fish have a place to hide. It is necessary to keep them in a school of 6–8 other silver tetras in a 30-gallon tank. That is 100 cm (39 in) long tank. With a pH range of 6.0–7.5. The temperature of the water should be 24–28 °C (75–82 °F). The fish are peaceful and can be kept with other non-aggressive fish.

References

• IUCN Red list: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/search