The Congo Tetra 4cm is a juvenile of one of the most striking schooling tetras in the hobby. Originating from the Congo River basin in Africa, these fish develop long, flowing fins and a beautiful, shimmering body that reflects blues, violets, golds and greens under good lighting.
At around Congo Tetra 4cm, they are still growing and colouring up, but already show the elegant shape and schooling behaviour that make them such a standout in larger community aquariums.
Appearance & Behaviour of Congo Tetra 4cm
The Congo Tetra 4cm has:
- A slender, elongated body with a slightly deeper mid‑section
- Iridescent scales that develop strong rainbow tones as they mature
- Long, flowing fins in males, with trailing dorsal and tail fin extensions
- Calm, active schooling behaviour – happiest in a group of 6+
When kept in a proper group, the Congo Tetra 4cm will cruise the mid‑to‑upper water column, flashing colour as they turn in the light and creating a stunning display in planted or blackwater‑style setups.
Tank Requirements for Congo Tetra 4cm
To keep the Congo Tetra 4cm thriving and showing its best colours:
- Tank size: A minimum of ~90–120L, with more space preferred for a decent school
- Aquascape: Planted tank with open swimming areas and some shaded zones
- Substrate: Darker substrates help enhance their iridescence
- Water movement: Gentle to moderate flow, not too harsh on their fins
Water parameters (general guide):
- Temperature: around 24–28°C
- pH: roughly 6.0–7.5, stable and well‑maintained
- Clean, well‑filtered water with regular partial water changes
Good lighting over plants and darker backgrounds will help the Congo Tetra 4cm develop richer colour and a more metallic sheen as it matures.
Tank Mates for Congo Tetra 4cm
The Congo Tetra 4cm is generally peaceful and well suited to calm community tanks:
- Great with other peaceful tetras, rasboras, rainbowfish of similar size, and gentle cichlids
- Compatible with Corydoras, smaller plecos and other non‑aggressive bottom dwellers
- Avoid fin‑nippers and very boisterous species that may damage their flowing fins
Because they are schooling fish, always keep Congo Tetra 4cm in a group – more individuals will mean less stress, better colour and more natural behaviour.
Feeding the Congo Tetra 4cm
The Congo Tetra 4cm is not fussy, but benefits from a varied, high‑quality diet:
- Quality tropical flakes and micro pellets as a staple
- Frozen and live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm to enhance colour
- Occasional treats like insect‑based foods to mimic their natural diet
Feeding small amounts 1–2 times per day will keep your Congo Tetra 4cm active, healthy and brightly coloured.
Perfect Centrepiece Schooling Fish
For aquarists wanting a showy, active school in a larger community tank, the Congo Tetra 4cm is an excellent choice:
- Adds constant movement and shimmer to the mid‑water
- Pairs beautifully with planted and blackwater‑inspired aquariums
- Peaceful nature makes them easy to combine with other community species
Given time, good food and stable water, a group of Congo Tetra 4cm will mature into a truly eye‑catching display.
