Photo: Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
African red-eyed tetra
Arnoldichthys spilopterus
10 cm
Adult size
140 L
Minimum volume
10
Minimum group
8 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Arnoldichthys
- Diet
- omnivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
The only species of its genus, this African tetra stands out for its large scales, hence its names “big-scale tetra” or “Niger tetra”. Very popular in the hobby, it is nevertheless listed as endangered: known from fewer than ten localities, it suffers from deforestation and pollution.
- Scientific name
- Arnoldichthys spilopterus (Boulenger, 1909)
- Classification
- Characiformes › Lepidarchidae
- IUCN Red List
- Endangered (EN)
Natural habitat
Nigeria: Ogun and lower Niger basins
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives in the streams and rivers of southwestern Nigeria.
Behaviour
Peaceful but very active, it disturbs shy species. Keep it in a group of at least ten, with other African tetras, small Synodontis and robust dwarf cichlids such as Pelvicachromis pulcher. It accepts all foods, especially small live or frozen prey. Hardy once settled, it lives several years.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth