Description and Variants
Body length: 2-2.5 inches. Black/silver body with extensive black fins (the "skirt").
Variants: long-fin black skirt, white skirt (color morph), GloFish (genetically modified colors).
Tank Requirements
20-gallon minimum for a school of 6+. 30 gallons preferred.
Wide pH and hardness tolerance (pH 6.0-7.5, GH 4-15). Temperature 72-80°F. Hardy and beginner-friendly.
- ✦Hardy enough for new tanks — but still cycle first.
- ✦Plant heavily to give fin-nipped fish refuge.
Fin-Nipping Problem
Black skirts nip fins of long-finned fish. Bettas, angelfish, gouramis, fancy goldfish all suffer.
Fin nipping reduces with larger groups (10+) — more interaction within the school distracts from outside fish. Smaller groups (under 6) are aggressive nippers.
Compatible Tank Mates
Other similarly sized hardy fish: rasboras, danios, corydoras, larger tetras (lemon, bleeding heart), peaceful cichlids (kribensis).
Avoid: bettas, angelfish, gouramis, fancy goldfish, any fish with long flowing fins.
Diet
Omnivore. Eats flake, pellets, frozen, and live foods readily. Easy to feed.
Variety brings out color depth.
Breeding
Egg scatterers in plants. Parents eat eggs — remove after spawning. Easy to breed compared to most tetras.