{"product_id":"costae-tetra-moenkhausia-costae","title":"Costae Tetra | Moenkhausia costae","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Costae Tetra is a sleek silver shoaler marked with a bold dark spot on the shoulder and a striking black line running into the tail. Active, hardy and peaceful, and reaching around 6–7 cm, it is a tidy, eye-catching schooling fish for a planted community.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoenkhausia costae is native to the São Francisco River basin and other drainages of eastern Brazil, where it shoals in clear to slightly stained streams and rivers over sand and among submerged wood and vegetation. The water is warm and soft to moderately hard. A planted tank with driftwood, open swimming lanes and subdued lighting recreates its home and shows off its metallic sheen.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA streamlined, laterally compressed tetra with bright silver flanks, a distinct dark humeral (shoulder) spot and a bold black stripe extending through the caudal peduncle into the tail, often edged with white or yellow. The fins can carry subtle colour. Good diet, clean water and the security of a shoal keep the silver bright and the markings crisp.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful and active. Like most tetras it is happiest and best-behaved in a group of six or more, where any minor fin-nipping tendencies are dissipated within the shoal. It mixes well with other peaceful community fish of similar size. Kept in too small a group it can become nippy or nervous, so a proper school is important.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivorous micropredator that readily takes quality flake and small pellets, and shows its best colour and condition on a varied diet including frozen and live foods such as daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts a couple of times a day. A varied diet keeps the shoal active, healthy and brightly coloured.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of around 60 L, with more room appreciated for a larger, more active shoal. Keep temperature at 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and GH soft to medium, around 3–15. Provide gentle to moderate flow, planting with open swimming space, and clean, stable water with regular changes. It is peaceful and completely plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBreeding follows the typical tetra pattern. In soft, slightly acidic water the fish scatter adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants and take no care of them, readily eating their own spawn. A separate, dimly lit breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mesh, and removal of the adults after spawning, gives the fry the best chance.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMoenkhausia costae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCostae Tetra (Blackline Tail Tetra)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEastern Brazil (São Francisco basin)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 6–7 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: quality flake, small pellets, frozen and live foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to medium, around 3–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other peaceful tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, rainbowfish, corydoras, bristlenose and other calm community fish of similar size.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large or aggressive fish that may eat or bully it, and with very long-finned, slow tank mates that could tempt any nipping. Keeping it in a proper shoal prevents most nippy behaviour.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232818118947,"sku":"AA3593","price":8.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232818151715,"sku":"AA3593-M","price":13.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/costae-tetra-moenkhausia-cos-43077910135075.webp?v=1790306324","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/costae-tetra-moenkhausia-costae","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}