Product Details

Black Phantom Tetra – Megalamphodus megalopterus

The Black Phantom Tetra is a peaceful South American tetra with smoky silver colour, dark shoulder markings and elegant black fins in mature males. Long sold as Hyphessobrycon megalopterus, this species is now also listed as Megalamphodus megalopterus and remains a reliable choice for mature planted community aquariums. It is calm, attractive and social, showing its best behaviour and colour when kept in a proper group.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Black Phantom Tetra
Other Names: Black Phantom, Phantom Tetra, Black Phantom Characin, Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
Scientific Name: Megalamphodus megalopterus
Older / Trade Name: Hyphessobrycon megalopterus
Fish Type: Tetra / Characin
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Megalamphodus megalopterus is native to South America, where it is recorded from the upper Paraguay and Guaporé River basins. These habitats are generally warm tropical freshwater environments with plant cover, shaded areas, submerged structure and quieter swimming zones.

In the aquarium, Black Phantom Tetras do best in mature planted setups with clean water, gentle to moderate flow, shaded cover and open swimming room. Wood, leaf litter, darker décor and floating plants can help create a calmer setting and bring out their smoky black markings.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Black Phantom Tetras have a deep, laterally compressed body with a silver-grey to smoky body tone and a distinctive dark shoulder patch behind the gill area. Mature males usually develop stronger black colouration in the dorsal and anal fins, while females are often fuller-bodied and may show warmer reddish tones in the fins or body.

Adults usually reach around 3.5–4.5 cm in aquariums. Their colour, fin shape and body depth can vary with sex, age, mood, diet and aquarium conditions.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is an excellent fish for peaceful community aquariums, planted South American-style setups and mixed tetra displays. Black Phantom Tetras are generally calm and well behaved, making them suitable for aquariums with other peaceful species of similar size.

They are not suitable for aggressive cichlid tanks, predator communities, very hard-water livebearer setups, tiny unfiltered aquariums or tanks with large fish that may eat them.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 60–75 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 90 litres or more are preferred for bigger groups and mixed community displays.

Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8–10 or more preferred. A larger group improves confidence, spreads male display behaviour and creates a more natural aquarium display.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–28°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Black Phantom Tetras prefer clean, stable water and should only be added to mature aquariums. Soft, slightly acidic water suits them well, but captive-bred or well-acclimatised fish can adapt to a broader community range if changes are gradual. Avoid sudden swings in temperature, pH or hardness.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Black Phantom Tetras are peaceful community fish. Suitable tank mates include other peaceful tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, Cory-type catfish, Otocinclus, small peaceful plecs, dwarf cichlids with care, honey gouramis and other calm community species that enjoy similar conditions.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, severe fin-nippers and very boisterous fish that may intimidate them. They should not be kept singly or in pairs, as group life is important for confidence, colour and natural behaviour.

Feeding:

Black Phantom Tetras are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small granules or micro pellets as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mosquito larvae and small bloodworm.

A varied diet helps maintain body condition, fin colour and natural display behaviour. Feed small portions that are eaten quickly, as they are active midwater feeders.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species usually swims through the middle levels of the aquarium, moving in a loose group rather than a tight school. Mature males may display to one another with raised fins, darkened colour and sideways posturing. This behaviour is usually ritualised and rarely causes harm when the group is large enough and the aquarium has enough space.

Black Phantom Tetras are egg scatterers and do not provide parental care. If spawning occurs in a community aquarium, eggs and fry are usually eaten unless a separate breeding setup is used.

Care Notes:

Add Black Phantom Tetras only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Provide plant cover, shaded areas and open swimming room. Maintain regular water changes and stable water quality, and avoid rough or aggressive tank mates.

This species can look pale after transport or in bright bare tanks, but settled fish usually develop stronger contrast, darker fins and more confident display behaviour once they are in a calm planted aquarium with a good-sized group.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Usually captive-bred or farmed, with imports also seen

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, body tone, shoulder mark, fin colour, sex and markings can occur between individual fish.