Candidate
Black skirt tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Open full care profile →Photo identification · reviewed 2026-07-31
Black skirt tetra vs serpae tetra
Body colour and fin shape distinguish these tetras, but both require planning for group-mediated fin nipping.
Candidate
Serpae tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
Open full care profile →Interactive observation guide
Inspect one clue at a time
Use the photographs above, then select each clue. Do not make an identification from one feature alone.
Black skirt tetras are tall and silver-grey, with two dark vertical bars and an extended dark anal fin.
Care reality check
Compare the adult requirements
A visual identification changes which limits you should plan around.
| Requirement | Black skirt tetra | Serpae tetra |
|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 5–6 cm | 4–5 cm |
| Minimum tank | 75 L · 75 cm | 75 L · 80 cm |
| Temperature | 20–27°C | 22–27°C |
| pH | 6–8 | 5.5–7.5 |
| GH | 4–18 dGH | 5–20 dGH |
| Social minimum | 8 | 10 |
| Temperament | boisterous | boisterous fin-nipper |
Visible differences
Clues to inspect
- Black skirt tetras are tall and silver-grey, with two dark vertical bars and an extended dark anal fin.
- Serpae tetras are reddish, with a dark shoulder mark and dark-edged dorsal and anal fins.
- White-skirt and fluorescent black-skirt morphs can remove the expected grey colour while retaining the deep body.
Shared traits
Why they are confused
- Both are deeper-bodied tetras with boisterous tendencies.
- Both need a substantial same-species group to spread chasing.
Why it matters
Do not stop at the name
Identification refines water and space planning, but neither is a safe default with slow long-finned fish.
Uncertainty
When a photo is not enough
Domestic colour strains make colour unreliable; focus on body depth, bars and fin proportions.