Penguin tetra
Thayeria boehlkei
A schooling tetra with a black 'hockey stick' stripe and a tail-down swimming pose; hardy, peaceful and good in dim, planted tanks.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 22 gallons
- Group
- 6+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, micro pellets, frozen daphnia and brine shrimp
- Origin
- South America
- Hardier than87%
- Bigger than16%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Penguin tetra tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaSmall groups may nip betta fins.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Penguin tetra.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Penguin tetra.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Penguin tetra.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Penguin tetra.Risky
- Peacock cichlidMalawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Penguin tetra.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Penguin tetra: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Penguin tetra: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Penguin tetra: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Penguin tetra: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Penguin tetra: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Penguin tetra: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for penguin tetras: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 3.6 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 1.13 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.05 BU
- Min. water
- 68 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 38 cm per group
- Group
- 6+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- occasional
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Thayeria boehlkei · FishBase: Thayeria boehlkei
Care notes
Penguin tetras come from South America and swim at a slight angle, which makes the black stripe running into the lower tail lobe stand out. They stay in the upper and middle water.
Keep six or more, ideally ten, in a 20 gallon tank or larger with subdued light. In a proper group they rarely bother anyone, but a small group may nip fins.
Questions
What size tank does a penguin tetra need?
At least 22 gallons (68 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.4 inches without fins.
How many penguin tetras should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do penguin tetras need?
72–82 °F, pH 6–8 and 0–20 dGH. Penguin tetras come from South America.
How long do penguin tetras live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with penguin tetras?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.