Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
Smoky grey-black body with a distinctive black shoulder spot ringed in iridescent blue. Males develop extended dorsal and anal fin extensions; females stay rounder with a red-and-black anal fin tip. Males perform fascinating fin-flaring displays to each other without real aggression.
Black Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) reaches 4–5 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 75 L. Native to Bolivia, Brazil (Mato Grosso), Paraguay, it lives in the mid water column with a peaceful (males spar) temperament. Aim for 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 4–5 years with good care. Keep black phantom tetra in groups of 6+, yes schoolers need numbers to display natural behaviour. Diet: omnivore, Flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, bloodworms. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: Mostly (may eat shrimplets).
Care at a glance
Smoky grey-black body with a distinctive black shoulder spot ringed in iridescent blue. Males develop extended dorsal and anal fin extensions; females stay rounder with a red-and-black anal fin tip. Males perform fascinating fin-flaring displays to each other without real aggression.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 2 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
Hero photo by This illustration was made by Citron You must credit this : Citron / CC-BY-SA-3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikipedia
The parameters that decide whether black phantom tetra fits in your tank.
Mid
Yes
Group of 6+
Characidae
Omnivore
Flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, bloodworms.
4–5 yrs
Medium
Slow forest streams of central Brazil
Bolivia, Brazil (Mato Grosso), Paraguay
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Most peaceful tetras and South American community fish. Corydoras, rams, apistogramma, otocinclus.
Fin-nippers (will damage the extended male finnage), aggressive cichlids, very small nano species (phantoms can intimidate them).
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Display group of 8+ with at least 2 males for constant fin-flaring display behaviour — males flare fins at each other in territorial bluff, never actually fighting. Pair with red phantom tetras for one of the most striking 'phantom' community tank combinations. The black shoulder spot ringed in blue iridescence is more visible against dark substrate.
Genus 'Hyphessobrycon' = 'small Brycon'. Species 'megalopterus' = 'large-winged' (referring to the male's extended fins).
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Robust. Standard tetra care.
Often confused with the red phantom tetra (H. sweglesi) which has a red body. Black phantoms are smoky grey-black; red phantoms are crimson. Both are gorgeous but distinct.
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
75 L+. Heavy planting with open mid-water swimming. Dark substrate brings out the smoky-grey body colour. Moderate dim lighting; tannins improve display intensity.
2–3 weeks.
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Where it lived before it came home.
Slow tributaries and floodplain pools across the upper Paraguay basin (Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay). Tannin-stained, slightly acidic to neutral water with dense vegetation.
Insect larvae, small crustaceans, fallen invertebrates.
Not threatened. Captive-bred extensively.
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
Distinct dimorphism. Males develop extended dorsal and anal fin rays plus a more pronounced black shoulder spot. Females retain rounder body shape and have a red-and-black anal fin tip absent in males.
Egg scatterers. Soft slightly acidic water at 26 °C, dense moss or spawning mop. Adults eat eggs — remove after spawning. Fry need infusoria first week.
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Wild type plus 'long-fin' and 'red phantom' (a different species, H. sweglesi, sometimes confused). Black phantom and red phantom are sister species often paired in displays.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Black Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) needs a minimum tank of 75 L. They live in the mid water column and should be kept in groups of 6+, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: Mostly (may eat shrimplets). Plant safety: Yes.
Black Phantom Tetra are omnivore. Flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, bloodworms.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice. Breeding difficulty: medium.
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 4–5 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
