Blushing Longfin White Skirt Tetra

Blushing Longfin White Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)

Appearance & Behavior

Add soft color and flowing movement to your freshwater aquarium with Blushing Longfin White Skirt Tetras. This selectively bred variety of the Black Skirt Tetra has a pale, translucent body, a pinkish blush around the gill area, and elongated fins that trail gracefully as it swims. A group creates a gentle contrast against green plants and darker backgrounds. These social fish are active and can chase or nip fins, especially when kept in small groups or crowded surroundings.

Quick Care Guide

• Care Level: Easy to moderate; careful tankmate selection required

• Temperament: Generally peaceful to semi-aggressive; may chase and nip fins

• Adult Size: Approximately 2–2.5 inches, with additional length from flowing fins

• Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gallons long; larger aquariums recommended for bigger groups and community stocking

• Temperature: 72–79°F

• pH: 6.0–7.5

• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water, approximately 5–20 dGH

• Diet: Omnivore

• Swimming Area: Middle

• Recommended Quantity: At least 6; preferably 8–10 or more when aquarium space and stocking allow

Aquarium Setup & Compatibility

Provide planted edges, shaded retreats, and open swimming space. Blushing Longfin White Skirt Tetras do best in a fully cycled aquarium with stable water conditions and gentle to moderate circulation that does not buffet their flowing fins. Plants and smooth decorations help break lines of sight and offer places to retreat. Use a secure lid, avoid sharp decorations, and keep enough of their own kind to help distribute social interactions.

Choose peaceful, similarly sized, short-finned tankmates with compatible care requirements, such as suitable tetras, rasboras, and Corydoras species. Avoid known fin-nippers such as Serpae Tetras and Tiger Barbs, which may damage this variety's long fins. Bettas, fancy guppies, and other slow-moving or long-finned fish are also poor choices because skirt tetras may nip them. Dwarf shrimp, especially shrimplets, may be eaten. Monitor the group for persistent chasing or fin damage; a larger group does not guarantee nipping will stop.

Feeding

Feed Hatchery Diet 1.2 mm, supplemented with Daphnia and Bloodworms. Crush pellets or cut larger bloodworms into smaller pieces as needed to fit their mouths. Offer small portions across more than one feeding spot so less dominant fish have a chance to eat.