Black Veiltail Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)

Description

Quick answer: black veiltail tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) are the long finned form of the black skirt tetra, sold at 2.7 to 3.5 cm. They school in midwater and the trailing fins give a tank movement that a standard black skirt cannot match.

Black skirt tetras are cheap, hardy and everywhere. The veiltail form is the version that looks like a different fish, and it commands a higher price for the same care. That is the whole commercial argument, and it works because the difference is visible from across the room.

Identification

A deep, diamond shaped black body with two dark vertical bands behind the gill cover, silver flanks on some specimens and long, flowing dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Adults reach around 5 cm excluding the fins, and the fish supplied at 2.7 to 3.5 cm is a young adult with fins still growing.

Water parameters

22 to 26 degrees Celsius, pH 6.0 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard water. They are among the toughest tetras in the trade and accept a wide range. A group of six or more keeps them schooling and reduces nipping between tank mates.

Behaviour

Active midwater schoolers. They can nip the fins of slow, long finned tank mates, which is worth telling a customer who plans to keep them with guppies or bettas. Their own long fins are also vulnerable to nipping from barbs and other boisterous fish.

Grading and packing

Fish are graded at 2.7 to 3.5 cm, fasted and packed in oxygen. Long fins fold in the bag and sometimes curl on longer routes, but they recover quickly in clean water. Density is kept moderate so the fins are not crushed.

Ordering

Send the quantity, size and destination. We confirm what the batch holds, how it will be packed and the delivery terms.

Selling the veiltail form

Stock the standard black skirt and the veiltail side by side and let customers see the difference. The veiltail sells at a premium because it looks like a more expensive fish, and the cost to the retailer is only the difference in wholesale price. Displaying them together also reduces returns, because nobody buys the cheaper fish expecting the long fins.

Frequently asked questions

Is the black veiltail a different species?

No. It is a long finned form of Gymnocorymbus ternetzi, the black skirt tetra.

Do the long fins get damaged?

They can curl in transit or be nipped by boisterous tank mates. Clean water and calm companions protect them.

How big do they get?

Around 5 cm body length, with fins adding noticeably more.