Add a striking splash of color and dynamic movement to your aquarium with the Penguin Redtail Tetra (Thayeria obliqua). Known for its distinct swimming style and eye-catching coloration, this rare variant of the classic Penguin Tetra features a bold black horizontal stripe running along its silvery body that extends sharply down into the lower lobe of its caudal fin. What sets this beautiful community fish apart is the vibrant, fiery red splash accenting its tail fin, creating a stunning visual contrast in any planted setup.

Quick Care & Aquarium Specifications

📍 Place of Origin

The Penguin Redtail Tetra is native to South America, primarily found thriving in the slow-moving rivers, blackwater streams, and flooded tributaries of the upper Amazon River basin in Brazil and Peru.

📐 Minimum Tank Size

To thrive happily, a minimum tank size of 20 gallons is highly recommended. Because they are active, tight-schooling fish, they require plenty of open swimming space to display their natural behaviors. They should always be kept in groups of 6 or more.

🌿 Ideal Tank Environment

Replicate their natural Amazonian habitat by providing a well-planted aquarium with plenty of driftwood roots, rock formations, and dense background live plants like Amazon Swords or Vallisneria.

• They prefer a gentle to moderate water flow and dimmed lighting, which can easily be achieved using floating aquarium plants.

• Using a dark substrate will make their silver bodies and red tails contrast dramatically.

🌡️ Water Parameters

• Temperature: 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C)

• pH Level: 6.0 to 7.5 (prefers slightly acidic to neutral water)

• Water Hardness: 2 to 15 dGH

🍽️ Feeding & Diet

Penguin Redtail Tetras are omnivorous and exceptionally easy to feed. In the aquarium, they will readily accept high-quality floating flakes and micro-pellets as their daily staple. To enhance their red coloration and maintain optimal health, supplement their diet with live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.

🐟 Compatible Tank Mates

This peace-loving species is an excellent addition to any peaceful community aquarium. Because they are fast swimmers and stay near the upper to middle layers of the tank, they pair wonderfully with a wide variety of tank mates.

• Great options include: Other peaceful tetras (like Neon or Rummy Nose), Rasboras, Corydoras Catfish, peaceful Dwarf Cichlids (like Apistogramma or Rams), and Bristlenose Plecos.

• Avoid: Large, predatory, or aggressive fish that might mistake these slender tetras for a snack.

🥚 Breeding the Redtail Penguin Tetra

Breeding Thayeria obliqua in captivity is moderately challenging but highly rewarding. They are egg-scatterers and do not exhibit parental care.

• Set up a dedicated breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic water, dim lighting, and plenty of fine-leaved spawning plants or java moss.

• Condition the parents with a high-protein diet of live foods before introducing them to the breeding setup.

• Once the eggs are scattered among the plants, adult fish must be removed immediately to prevent them from eating the eggs. The fry will hatch within 24 to 36 hours and should be fed infusoria or freshly hatched brine shrimp.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
• We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. 
• Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.