X-Ray Tetra

The X-Ray Tetra is a hardy fish that is great for the beginning fish keeper that’s peaceful and easy to care for.  Adult size: up to 4.5 cm, min tank size: 40 litres, 60 litres for school of 6.

The X-Ray Tetra (Pristella maxillaris) is native to coastal waters of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and northern Brazil. This fish is no longer wild caught and is only commercially bred.

Behaviour

X-Ray Tetra are very peaceful and good community fish. They are ideal for a community aquarium with other peaceful fish. They can be kept in large schools and will do best if kept in a school of at least 6 individuals. Tetras can be easily spooked into hiding, so try to set up your tank appropriately.

Tank Conditions

The aquarium should be heavily planted around the sides and back and have plenty of open water for swimming in the front. A few hiding places would also be appreciated. These fish like a moderate amount of current. Add a canister filter or powerhead to create the proper current. The tank should have moderate to dim lighting.

Compatibility

It’s a very peaceful species and good community fish that won’t compete well with very boisterous or much larger tankmates. Ideally keep it with other South American species, such as other small tetras, pencil fish, hatchet fish, dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma, Corydoras and small Loricariids. In a more general community it can be combined with smaller rasboras, barbs, livebearers, loaches, Anabantoids and West African dwarf cichlids such as Pelvicachromis species.  Always buy a group of at least 6 of these, preferably 10 or more. It’s a shoaling species by nature, and will fare much better when in the company of its own kind. Like most tetras it actually looks far more effective when maintained like this anyway.

In a slightly brackish water aquarium, they can be housed with Kribensis Cichlids, Orange Chromide Cichlids, small gobies and other small non-predatory fish.

Feeding

Since they are omnivorous, the X-Ray Tetra will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods.  Feed a mixture of dried flakes and granules along with small live and frozen foods such as Daphnia or Artemia, brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or bloodworms as a treat.

Care

Keep their water quality high with a good current, and these fish will do great.

At least 25 to 50% of the tank water should be replaced every other week.

See Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets for help with diagnosing and treating diseases.