Dichroura Moenkhausia

Moenkhausia dichroura, the Bandtail Moenkhausia, is a stocky, well-proportioned tetra from the Paraguay and lower Paraná systems. Its most distinctive feature is the bold black-and-white banding on the caudal fin that inspired its common name. The silvery body bears faintly outlined scales and a lateral stripe that fades toward the middle of the fish. Robustly built and highly adaptable, this species tolerates a range of water conditions and is one of the hardiest members of its genus. It is an active schooling fish that pairs beautifully with other mid-size South American species in community aquariums. An underrated but very reliable tetra.

Water: pH 6.0–7.5, temperature 22–27 °C; soft to moderately hard. Very adaptable to conditioned tap water. Tank: 80 L minimum; planted with good open swimming space. Moderate filtration. Feeding: Omnivore; accepts all standard aquarium foods including flake, pellets, and frozen foods. Breeding: Egg-scatterer; neutral to slightly acidic water. Prolific when conditioned with live foods. Compatibility: Peaceful; suitable for most South American community setups.