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Freshwater   Fishes

Penguin fish
(Thayeria boehlkei)

Penguin fish

Names

Scientific name
Thayeria boehlkei

Common name
Penguin fish
Penguin tetra
False Penguin Tetra
Blackline penguinfish
Blackline thayeria
Hockey-stick tetra

Origin

what are its countries of origin?

Origin: Brazil, Peru
Biotope: Amazonian

Dimorphism

what are the physical differences between males and females?

The female is larger nand has a more bouncy belly (not very visible)

Group

Group

Characidae

Volume

what is the minimum volume for this species?

60 L / 13 imp gal / 16 US gal

Parameters

what are the water parameters for the maintenance of this fish?

T°: 22 à 25°C or 72 to 77°F
pH: 5.5 to 7
Hardness: 1 to 8°dGH

Difficulty

Difficulty

Easy

Size

what is the maximum size of this fish?

6 cm (2.4")

Longevity

what is the average Longevity of this fish?

5 years

Living zone

in which area of the aquarium does this fish live?

Middle and top

Individuals

sociability of the species

10

Food

How to feed the Penguin fish?

Food

How to feed the Penguin fish?

Omnivorous: all forms of food are accepted.

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Penguin fish have?

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Penguin fish have?

Peaceful but lively. Like all species of the genus, it is gregarious and must imperatively be kept in a shoal. It is possible that a shoal can «merge» with Blue Neons to become one big shoal. Nevertheless, a minimum of 10 individuals of the same species is recommended.

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Penguin fish?

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Penguin fish?

Its roommates will be calm and peaceful. In a South American aquarium, you can associate Hemigrammus or Hyphessobrycon Tetra, pencil fish, small cichlids (Apistogramma for example) or Corydoras and Loricariidae.

In a more general community aquarium, it will be able to live with Barbus, small Rasboras or dwarf cichlids of Africa (Pelvicachromis for example).

Breeding

How to breed the Penguin fish?

Breeding

How to breed the Penguin fish?

Breeding is fairly easy overall even if a specific breeding tank is preferable to keep as many fry as possible.

Place in a spawning tank (20 L or 4 Imp Gal or 5 US Gal) equipped with a protective bgrid and Java moss, 1 male and 3 females. New water. Temperature 26°C or 79°F and pH 7/7.5 (note that a temperature slightly higher than the maintenance tank will encourage the group to spawn). Feed individuals with live prey and spawning should not be a problem. A laying may include up to 1000 eggs.

After spawning, remove the parents and renew the water without changing its parameters. Cover the aquarium to sift the lighting because the eggs are photosensitive. The incubation lasts 12 hours.

Feeding fry: infusoria, nauplies of artemia and cyclops.

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Penguin fish?

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Penguin fish?

You can build your aquarium with dark substrate, lush vegetation, peat bog roots and floating plants (it likes soft light).

Ideally, make your tank around an Amazonian biotope. To do this, simply use a river sand substrate, driftwood roots or turtle woods, dried oak or beech leaves (which will slightly colour the water).

You can also filter on peat to simulate black water loaded with tannins specific to this biotope. In this type of installation, the lighting will be quite weak, or sifted by floating plants. Your choices of plants will have to take into account this low light (Anubias, Java moss, Cryptocorynes...).

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

The penguin fish is a little tricky. Indeed, it is sensitive to nitrates: make changes of water regularly to keep a perfectly clean water.

It takes its name “Penguin” because of its position at rest: it is inclined at about 45°.

Yours photos!

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