Black phantom tetra

Megalamphodus megalopterus

A dark shoulder patch and tall black dorsal fin in males

Males have conspicuous dark fins. Females are deeper-bodied and have reddish colour on some fins. The shoulder patch matters more than an entirely black body.

Adult length: Up to 3.6 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)
Water temperature: 20–28 °C
pH: 5–7
Hardness: 1–12 dGH

Natural habitat: Native to the upper Paraguay and Guaporé river basins.

Males display and compete. A single fish is no substitute for a group of its own species.

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Appearance and identification

Compare with the black skirt tetra: the black phantom has one shoulder patch, whereas the black skirt has two vertical bars and a broad skirt-like anal fin. Adult males have enlarged, dark pelvic, dorsal and anal fins. Females may have reddish pelvic, anal and adipose fins; reddish female fins alone do not identify a red phantom.