Freshwater
Blackline penguinfish
Thayeria boehlkei
Acestrorhamphidae, Thayeriinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 3.2 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- At least 6 together
- Smallest aquarium
- 19 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Videos
The Fish of Rio das Mortes – Brazil’s Hidden Aquatic Treasure
CHRIS LUKHAUPAug 23, 2026
More about the species
Description
Feeds on worms, small insects and crustaceans. In the tank, female lays a large number of eggs, which hatch in about 20 to 24 hours. Maximum length reported to reach 6 cm TL. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 60 cm.
Other names
In other languages
- Vinkeltetra
- Vinkeltetra
- Almindelig vinkeltetra
- Kulmatetra
- Boehlke's penguin fish, Hockey stick, Penguin, Penguin Fish, Penguinfish
Articles
All articles
How many fish can I keep?4 min read
Why "one cm of fish per liter" falls short, and what adult size, schools, territory and swimming zones mean for how many fish a tank can hold.
How to set up a South American aquarium4 min read
Soft, acidic water, subdued light, sand, roots and fallen leaves: how to set up a biotope aquarium from the Amazon and the rivers around it.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.