Description
Scientific Name: Phenacogrammus interruptus Origin: Central Africa (Congo River Basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Physical Characteristics The Congo Tetra is often considered the “crown jewel” of African tetras due to its unique iridescence.
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Coloration: They possess large, metallic scales that display a rainbow of colors—typically a glowing blue on top, fading into gold and orange in the middle, and violet on the belly. The colors shift depending on the angle of the light.
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Fins: This is the easiest way to tell males from females. Males develop spectacular, long, flowing fins with white edges and a distinct extended middle filament in their tail fin. Females are smaller, duller in color (mostly silver/gold), and have short, rounded fins.
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Size: They are a “jumbo” tetra, growing up to 3 to 3.5 inches (8–9 cm) in length.
Behavior and Temperament
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Schooling: These are active schooling fish. They need to be kept in groups of at least 6 or more. If kept alone or in small numbers, they become incredibly shy and will hide constantly.
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Temperament: Despite their larger size, they are very peaceful. They can be easily intimidated by aggressive fish. They make excellent tank mates for other peaceful community fish like Rainbowfish, Corydoras, and other Tetras.
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Activity: They are active mid-to-top level swimmers that appreciate plenty of open space to dart back and forth.
Care and Habitat
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Tank Size: Because of their size and active swimming nature, a standard 10 or 20-gallon tank is too small. A minimum of 40 to 55 gallons is recommended for a healthy school.
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Water Conditions: They prefer slightly acidic to neutral water (pH 6.0–7.5) and tropical temperatures (73°F–82°F).
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Diet: They are omnivores. To keep their colors bright, feed them a mix of high-quality flakes and frozen foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia.
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Lighting: Their colors look best under dimmer aquarium lighting or in tanks with floating plants that diffuse the light.
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