Cherry Red Congo Tetra Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

Cherry Red Congo Tetras are a selectively bred colour form of the Congo Tetra, prized for their warm red, copper and orange tones. Like the standard form, they have a laterally compressed body, large reflective scales and an attractive flowing dorsal, anal and caudal fin profile, with males usually developing the most dramatic finnage. Their colours become especially striking when they are mature, relaxed and displaying to one another.

These are active but generally peaceful shoaling fish that spend much of their time in the middle and upper levels of the aquarium. Males may spar and flare their fins in harmless displays, particularly when competing for the attention of females, but these interactions are normally brief and do not result in serious injury when the fish have adequate space.

In nature, Congo Tetras inhabit warm, flowing and gently shaded African waters associated with forested river systems. Leaf litter, submerged roots and dense vegetation create a broken pattern of light and cover, while tannins and soft water can give some habitats a tea-coloured appearance.

The Cherry Red form is not a separate species, but a cultivated aquarium strain of Phenacogrammus interruptus. Its vivid coloration and elegant finnage make it one of the most impressive larger tetras, although its full appearance is best appreciated in a mature group rather than as a solitary specimen.

Cherry Red Congo Tetras are a colour variety of Phenacogrammus interruptus, a species native to the central Congo Basin in Central Africa. Wild Congo Tetras occur in forest streams and tributaries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly within the Congo River system.

A group of Cherry Red Congo Tetras should have an aquarium of at least 200 litres, with a footprint around 120 cm long by 40 cm wide; a longer tank is preferable because these active swimmers appreciate uninterrupted space. Use a secure cover, gentle to moderate filtration and good oxygenation, while avoiding an excessively strong current. Dark sand or fine gravel, driftwood, smooth roots, leaf litter and dense planting around the sides and rear provide security, with open swimming space in the centre. Floating plants and subdued lighting can help the fish show their best colours.

Males can reach about 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 in), while females are usually smaller at around 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in).

Offer a varied omnivorous diet of quality flakes and small pellets supplemented with frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm and mosquito larvae. Small portions fed once or twice daily are suitable, and occasional vegetable-based foods can add variety. Their colour and condition are usually strongest when live or frozen foods are included regularly rather than relying on dry food alone.

Cherry Red Congo Tetras are peaceful community fish and can be kept with similarly sized, calm species such as other larger tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, Corydoras, peaceful catfish, small to medium rainbowfish and non-aggressive dwarf cichlids. Avoid very small fish that may be intimidated by their activity, fin-nipping species such as tiger barbs, and aggressive or predatory tankmates. They should not be housed with large African cichlids or other fish likely to harass or swallow them.

Cherry Red Congo Tetras are egg-scattering spawners. Condition a group with plenty of high-quality live or frozen foods, then move mature fish to a separate, dimly lit breeding aquarium with soft, slightly acidic water and fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop. Eggs are scattered among the vegetation, after which the adults should be removed because they may eat them. The eggs usually hatch in several days, and the fry can be raised on infusoria or other very small foods before progressing to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Males are generally larger and more vividly coloured, with longer, more flowing dorsal, anal and caudal fins and a noticeably extended central portion of the tail. Females are shorter-bodied, less flamboyant in finnage and typically rounder through the abdomen, especially when carrying eggs.