Black Darter Tetra - Poecilocharax weitzmani

Black Darter Tetra (Poecilocharax weitzmani) is a crenuchid recorded from Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, collected from the upper Río Negro, Río Orinoco (including the Río Inírida and Casiquiare canal) and Río Solimões drainages. Also traded as the 'Black Morpho' tetra, it requires specialist care and is notoriously reluctant to accept dried foods.

Unlike most small characids it does not form schools, and males are aggressively territorial towards one another. The Peruvian populations may apparently represent an undescribed species.

Habitat: slow-moving rainforest streams with tannin-stained water, mud or sand substrates, abundant leaf litter and submerged roots and branches, typically shaded by marginal vegetation and the forest canopy.

Aquarium: minimum base of 45 x 30 cm (around 41 litres). A pair, or a harem with a single male, can be kept in this area; to keep more than one male allow at least 30 x 30 cm per individual, as significant fin damage can occur.

Maintenance: soft sandy substrate, driftwood roots and branches to create shady spots, dried leaf litter (beech, oak or Ketapang almond leaves) and dim lighting. Microsorum, Taxiphyllum or Cryptocoryne spp. are suitable plants. Gentle, ideally air-powered filtration; never introduce to biologically immature aquaria.

Water: temperature 21–28 °C, pH 3.0–6.5, hardness 0–5 dGH.

Diet: a micropredator; notoriously reluctant to accept dried foods, so daily feeds of live or frozen Daphnia, Artemia, grindal worm, micro worm or chopped bloodworm are usually necessary.

Foto ilustrativa. | Illustrative photo.