Penguin Tetra Thayeria Boehlkei 2cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Penguin Tetra is instantly recognisable by the bold black stripe that runs along its body and hooks down into the lower lobe of the tail, and by its habit of hovering head-up at an angle. Silver-gold with a brassy sheen, it is active, hardy and adaptable. It comes from the upper Amazon in Peru and the Araguaia in Brazil and suits most peaceful communities.
- Adult Size: Around 4–6 cm (1.5–2.5 in); females fuller bodied
- Lifespan: 5 years or more
Origin
- Native to: Upper Amazon basin, Peru, and Rio Araguaia, Brazil
- Habitat: Weedy wetlands and jungle streams with dense marginal vegetation
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous micropredator
- Preferred Foods: Flake, granules, bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae
- Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; greedy and unfussy
Tank Mates
- Best with: Other tetras, rasboras, Corydoras, small loaches, peaceful gouramis, dwarf cichlids
- Avoid: Large aggressive cichlids and very slow, long-finned fish
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful and active
- Territoriality: None
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Challenges: Fast and skittish; can nip if kept in too few numbers
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to hard, adaptable
- Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
- pH: 5.5–8.0
- Hardness: 1–20 dGH
- Flow: Moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 70 litres; longer tanks suit this active swimmer
Final Notes
This is a confident jumper, so fit a tight lid. It copes with a wide pH and hardness range, making it one of the easiest tetras for tap water areas, but it is quick and boisterous so pair it with tank mates that can hold their own. Keep eight or more to spread any nipping. Prolific egg scatterer; females are rounder and slightly paler. Tough, long lived and full of character.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.