Freshwater
Sharptooth tetra
Micralestes acutidens
Alestidae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 9 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- At least 6 together
- Smallest aquarium
- 86 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo - Brazzaville, Congo - Kinshasa, Eswatini, Malawi, and 7 more countries.
More about the species
Description
Shoals in clear, flowing or standing, open water; appears to co-exist with the tigerfish Hydrocynus forskalii in open water although it is heavily preyed upon by that predator, particularly those shoals of tigerfish ranging up to 45 cm in length. Omnivorous, often feeding from surface waters on winged insects; also takes insect larvae, crustaceans and eggs and fry of other fish. Matures after a year; partial spawner of moderate fecundity, with usually fewer than 700 eggs per female; shoals migrate upstream after first summer rains; breeds throughout the summer months; used as forage fish and as bait for tigerfish and pike.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Alestes acutidens
- Brachyalestes acutidens
- Micralestes acutidens neglectus
- Micralestes brevianalis
- Micralestes humilis
- Micralestes luluae
In other languages
- Spidstandet tetra
- Naskalialesti, Pikkukongontetra
- Silver robber, Silver tetra
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 an African aquarium5 min read
Two completely different aquariums: forest rivers with soft, brown water, roots and leaves, and Rift Valley lake cichlids in hard, alkaline water with big rock piles.
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.