X-Ray Pristella Tetra
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The X-Ray Pristella Tetra is an unusual member of the Characidae Family that has a near transparent body. This novel characteristic gives this tetra the appearance of a living x-ray photograph. However, unlike true clear or glass-like fish, the X-Ray Pristella Tetra has a captivating color pattern that adds another dimension of interest. The dorsal and anal fins have stylish bands of yellow, black, and white. In addition to these bands, the caudal fin has a beautiful pale red or pink coloration that offers yet another unexpected surprise to this seemingly transparent fish.
In the wild, the X-Ray Pristella Tetra is found in coastal rivers of South America of varying water chemistry. This natural tolerance to a wide range of water parameters makes the X-Ray Pristella Tetra well suited for the community aquarium. Unlike sensitive tetra species that need to be kept in soft water conditions, the hardy X-Ray Pristella Tetra is an excellent choice for new aquarists. Furthermore, the X-Ray Pristella Tetra is very peaceful and is compatible with other non-aggressive fish.
The ideal aquarium setup for the X-Ray Pristella Tetra will include live plants, rocks and driftwood to recreate natural habitat and provide hiding spaces. The X-Ray Pristella Tetra is a schooling fish and should be ideally kept in groups of six or more. Similar to other tetra species, the male X-Ray Pristella Tetra will tend to be smaller and thinner than the female.
The natural diet of the X-Ray Pristella Tetra consists primarily of small insects and planktonic animals. However, it will accept frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms tubifex, as well as micro pellet food and high quality flake foods.
X-Ray Pristella Tetra,
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Very hardy fish. It loves swimming in schools in will swim individually when feeling safe. If you are a fish observer and get to know your Pristellas, you will know when they are stress, although they shouldn’t be your primary indicator they will hide and swim low under quick changes in water condtions. As long as the water ph and hardness does not change too quickly they can easely adapt to a high ph and hardness (as in they still want to breed and eat well). But do yourself a favor and spend the extra bucks on purified water, $0.60/gallon @ Frys.
The bad, these fish are picky on food, they will ignore flake food after giving them live food untill they really get hungry. They will also not eat left over food on the substrate. plants, rocks untill they are really hungry. DO NOT overfeed these fish if that’s all you have in your aquarium, you will need to clean up after them.
They are best keeped with bottom feeders, snails/shrimps and fish similar in size. Great fish for planted aquariums, very low bioload.
NOT for small children, glass taping drives them nuts.
one of my favorite fishes to keep in a freshwater fish tank. As with tetras, they like to stay in groups so don’t just get one! They’re hardy and easy to keep and provide a nice color or colorless change to your tank.
i haven’t had any issues with them being picky about eating but that may just depend on which fishes you get. A great addition to your fishtank.
these fish are just awesome! I have them with my black phantoms and they are doing great and eating well and schooling gorgeously my 2 cents
I love these fish. The get along very well with my Glofish & Lemon Tetras. I’m happy I didn’t read the previious poster’s comments. I tap on the glass 3 times prior to feeding and they have figgured out the code in less than a week! They swim expectantly up to the top of the tank when I tap.
They are much more active and intelligent than the Lemons–about on par with the Glofish.
I am new to the albino x-ray pristellas. I have 3 in my 29 gallon that is cycling. I’m going to add 2 more next week when they come into the store. I had them in with 3 neon tetras in a smaller tank before and there were much more aggressive feeders than the neons.
The pristella do nose around in the gravel so I thought they were getting left overs.
After a couple more weeks I plan to add my group of now 5 neons to the 29 gallon. Then in another week I want to add 2 more neons, hoping that as a group of 7, they’ll compete more for food with the pristella.
In the meantime, I’ve got to decide about adding from a still different small tank my two badis badis and 2 honey gourami.
I have a reticulated hillstream loach and a bamboo shrimp in the tank right now with the badis badis and honeys. I know that’s too much for that 8 gallon, so I might have the get one of the groups of 2 out of there into the 29 gallon before adding the neons, because I’m have trouble regulating the nitrates in the 8 gallon right now. Just hope these will do ok with the pristellas. I know they are supposed to, but my pristella are not shy.