Family: Characidae
Balloon Penguin Tetra — a Characidae from South AmericaSouth America, gentle, slightly skittish when kept too few. Reaches 2.7–4 cm; schools tightly; never keep below 6. 22–28 °C.
Thayeria boehlkei is a Characidae from South America. In the wild it prefers blackwater streams and flooded forest; in the aquarium it stays gentle, slightly skittish when kept too few. Plan on 2.7–4 cm of adult fish at 22–28 °C. In a community tank it pairs well with Other small peaceful tetras and rasboras.
Difficulty: moderate. Gentle, slightly skittish when kept too few. Schools tightly; never keep below 6.
Set the heater to 22–28 °C and avoid swings. pH 6–8, GH 5–19 dGH suit it.
Adults reach 2.7–4 cm; it is middle of the water column. Plan for at least 25 litres.
Mid-water omnivore; colour foods keep the red honest. It forages naturally over dark sand and leaf litter, so let some food reach the bottom.
Gentle, slightly skittish when kept too few; schools tightly; never keep below 6. Good company: Other small peaceful tetras and rasboras — Form a mixed, calm mid-water mass. Keep away from Single-species isolation — A lone tetra is a stressed tetra.
Comes from South America: blackwater streams and flooded forest. Expect still to gentle current and moderate.
Jumping is not a known issue; cover the tank anyway during water changes.
In the aquarium: egg-scatterer over fine plants; no parental care. Subtle; females fuller-bodied.