New Fish/Type?

A friend just gave me these two fish. He didn't know what exact kind they are. I think they are some type of Gourami. Anyone know their exact species? Thanks so much.

I wanna say it's a striped disc tetra, but I don't think it is.

Black Widow tetras to me.

DoubleDutch posted just as I'd finished typing but I'll post mine anyway.


Widow/skirt tetra (same fish, different names), Gymnocorymbus ternetzi. Either a stressed black widow/skirt tetra (they will be stressed if they are new to the tank) or white widow/skirt tetra, again same fish just different colour morphs.
These are shoaling fish which need to be in a group of at least 6, with more being better.

DoubleDutch said:

Black Widow tetras to me.

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It's a fairly good size fish. It seems to have the temperament of a Gourami and is shaped like one--thin, disc like. Looks more like those striped disc tetras but they have 2 strips...

The pictured fish are definitely not a gourami of any species. They are characins. And within this huge family (the Characiformes) they are most probably Gymnocorymbus ternetzi. As others have correctly noted, they must have a group of their own species, I would aim for 10 or more if you have tank space, and if not, then re-home these. In fewer numbers they will almost inevitably become aggressive (once they are over their initial stress), it is in the nature of this species when kept in small numbers or small spaces, or with inappropriate tankmates. If healthy, this fish will easily attain 2.25 inches, with reports of 3 inches possible. I don't know the tank size you have, or the current fish, but you need to consider this carefully.

Byron said:

The pictured fish are definitely not a gourami of any species. They are characins. And within this huge family (the Characiformes) they are most probably Gymnocorymbus ternetzi. As others have correctly noted, they must have a group of their own species, I would aim for 10 or more if you have tank space, and if not, then re-home these. In fewer numbers they will almost inevitably become aggressive (once they are over their initial stress), it is in the nature of this species when kept in small numbers or small spaces, or with inappropriate tankmates. If healthy, this fish will easily attain 2.25 inches, with reports of 3 inches possible. I don't know the tank size you have, or the current fish, but you need to consider this carefully.

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I have a 125 gallon tank. They are currently in an isolation tank. I have attached a few more pictures. I would say the biggest one is about 5 or 6 times the size of a zebra danio. Thanks

Ken Sauer said:

I have a 125 gallon tank. They are currently in an isolation tank. I have attached a few more pictures. I would say the biggest one is about 5 or 6 times the size of a zebra danio. Thanks

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OK. If you like and want this species, acquire another 10 (or more) and add them all to the main tank together. This will allow them to establish their hierarchy with (hopefully) no issues, and other fish in the tank are far less to be attacked. Sedate fish (gourami, cichlids) cannot be kept with this species, that is like waving a red flag in front of a bull and only asking for trouble. In the correct environment they can be nice fish.

Byron said:

The pictured fish are definitely not a gourami of any species. They are characins. And within this huge family (the Characiformes) they are most probably Gymnocorymbus ternetzi. As others have correctly noted, they must have a group of their own species, I would aim for 10 or more if you have tank space, and if not, then re-home these. In fewer numbers they will almost inevitably become aggressive (once they are over their initial stress), it is in the nature of this species when kept in small numbers or small spaces, or with inappropriate tankmates. If healthy, this fish will easily attain 2.25 inches, with reports of 3 inches possible. I don't know the tank size you have, or the current fish, but you need to consider this carefully.

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You are correct. I matched it with an online picture. They are black skirt tetras of black widow tetras. Do you have any experience with them. Like I said, I have a 125 gallon tank which has a total of about 40 fish in it. They are Candy Cane Tetras, Zebra Danios, Pristella Tetras, scissor tale rasboras, cherry rasboras and bloodfin rasboras, harlequin rasboras. I am concerned about how they will do with these other fish. Obviously, I am going to have to purchase at least 4-6 more (of course, you say 10) of them so they can survive. I wonder what their ability to feed with these other fish, most of whom (except the bloodfins) eat at the top and compete with one another for the food. Because the bloodfins don't go to the top, I drop a sinking pellet. They end up basically having a football game with it with the Cherry barbs and to some extent the Candy Canes, but get enough of it to be healthy. What is your opinion?

Ken Sauer said:

Like I said, I have a 125 gallon tank which has a total of about 40 fish in it. They are Candy Cane Tetras, Zebra Danios, Pristella Tetras, scissor tale rasboras, cherry rasboras and bloodfin rasboras, harlequin rasboras. I am concerned about how they will do with these other fish. Obviously, I am going to have to purchase at least 4-6 more (of course, you say 10) of them so they can survive. I wonder what their ability to feed with these other fish, most of whom (except the bloodfins) eat at the top and compete with one another for the food. Because the bloodfins don't go to the top, I drop a sinking pellet. They end up basically having a football game with it with the Cherry barbs and to some extent the Candy Canes, but get enough of it to be healthy. What is your opinion?

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And of course, the harlequin rasboras are very small. I don't think they are small enough for them to eat...?

Ken Sauer said:

Like I said, I have a 125 gallon tank which has a total of about 40 fish in it. They are Candy Cane Tetras, Zebra Danios, Pristella Tetras, scissor tale rasboras, cherry rasboras and bloodfin rasboras, harlequin rasboras. I am concerned about how they will do with these other fish. Obviously, I am going to have to purchase at least 4-6 more (of course, you say 10) of them so they can survive. I wonder what their ability to feed with these other fish, most of whom (except the bloodfins) eat at the top and compete with one another for the food. Because the bloodfins don't go to the top, I drop a sinking pellet. They end up basically having a football game with it with the Cherry barbs and to some extent the Candy Canes, but get enough of it to be healthy. What is your opinion?

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Nothing of concern with those species, all are relatively active and not likely to become targets.

What exactly are "bloodfin rasbora?" I know of the bloodfin tetra species, is that what these are? Aphyocharax anisitsi is the more common species. These can fin nip too, once they are "settled" in their home, but a group of 10-12 minimum should be safe.

Ken Sauer said:

And of course, the harlequin rasboras are very small. I don't think they are small enough for them to eat...?

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It is with these species not a question of eating, but of natural inherent aggressive behaviours programmed into their genetics. Obviously, any fish will eat eggs if they find them, and most will eat very tiny fry, but not what you are describing here.

Byron said:

Nothing of concern with those species, all are relatively active and not likely to become targets.

What exactly are "bloodfin rasbora?" I know of the bloodfin tetra species, is that what these are? Aphyocharax anisitsi is the more common species. These can fin nip too, once they are "settled" in their home, but a group of 10-12 minimum should be safe.



It is with these species not a question of eating, but of natural inherent aggressive behaviours programmed into their genetics. Obviously, any fish will eat eggs if they find them, and most will eat very tiny fry, but not what you are describing here.

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Thanks Byron. I miswrote. They are bloodfin tetras, yes. You are incredibly helpful. What an expansive knowledge. I try to keep away from aggressive fish. Hmmm. My friend who brought these to me has had them about 2 years. They were mixed in, in his office, with 6 zebra danios, a peppered cory and a pleco. He only knew the names of the cory and pleco. He didn't know what the zebra danios were nor the black skirt tetras. Apparently, his wife bought the fish from petsmart to put in his office but his 20 gallon tank sprang a slow-leak. He asked me if I could take them, and I said, "Sure." I may go talk with my buddy who owns the local fish store and see what he thinks. If they are going to be a problem I'll probably just give them to him. I already have a group of peppered corys in another tank (they weren't surviving in the 125 gallon) which I will add the 1 cory to.

Ken Sauer said:

Thanks Byron. I miswrote. They are bloodfin tetras, yes. You are incredibly helpful. What an expansive knowledge. I try to keep away from aggressive fish. Hmmm. My friend who brought these to me has had them about 2 years. They were mixed in, in his office, with 6 zebra danios, a peppered cory and a pleco. He only knew the names of the cory and pleco. He didn't know what the zebra danios were nor the black skirt tetras. Apparently, his wife bought the fish from petsmart to put in his office but his 20 gallon tank sprang a slow-leak. He asked me if I could take them, and I said, "Sure." I may go talk with my buddy who owns the local fish store and see what he thinks. If they are going to be a problem I'll probably just give them to him. I already have a group of peppered corys in another tank (they weren't surviving in the 125 gallon) which I will add the 1 cory to.

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I personally would not put these two fish in my tanks, given what you said here. Two years is a long time for a shoaling fish to be without the companions it needs, this is in the fish's genetic makeup. They are bound to rebel at some point. If you can get rid of them, all the better.

Byron said:

I personally would not put these two fish in my tanks, given what you said here. Two years is a long time for a shoaling fish to be without the companions it needs, this is in the fish's genetic makeup. They are bound to rebel at some point. If you can get rid of them, all the better.

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Thanks Byron. I think I will give them to my local fish store. ( :