Care and Compatibility of Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus


Introduction

The Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) is a popular fish among aquarists due to its attractive coloration and interesting behavior. Native to the waters of the Congo Basin in Africa, this tetra is known for its elongated and slender body, as well as its vibrant colors. Its body displays shades from silvery to bright blue and is often highlighted by a dark line running from the top to the bottom, creating a striking contrast. These fish are suitable for peaceful community aquariums as they are generally calm and non-aggressive towards other species.

Behavior

The Congo Tetra is known for its active and peaceful behavior. They tend to swim in groups and enjoy the company of their conspecifics. Being shoaling fish, they feel safer and more comfortable when kept in groups of at least six individuals. This shoaling behavior often translates into a fascinating display in the aquarium as they swim together in a coordinated formation.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Phenacogrammus interruptus is minimal and difficult to distinguish. However, mature females may have a slightly rounder and larger abdomen than males.

Reproduction

Breeding Congo Tetras can be challenging in captivity but is best achieved in a dedicated breeding tank. It is recommended to provide places for egg deposition, such as fine-leaved plants and moss. Parents may eat their own eggs, so separating adults after egg laying is advised. The fry are tiny and should be fed with very small foods like infusoria and brine shrimp nauplii.

Aquarium Conditions

Phenacogrammus interruptus, commonly known as the Congo tetra, requires a spacious aquarium with plenty of room to swim and explore. It prefers warm and slightly acidic to neutral water. Aquarium décor should include live plants, driftwood, and rocks, along with providing shaded areas. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a varied diet.

Feeding

Regarding feeding, the Congo Tetra is omnivorous. They accept a varied diet that can include flakes, pellets, frozen foods, and live foods. Providing a balanced diet will contribute to maintaining their health and highlighting their vibrant colors.

Complexity

Caring for Phenacogrammus interruptus is moderately straightforward. They are peaceful fish that adapt well to community life. It's recommended to keep them in groups of at least six individuals to promote their natural behavior and reduce stress. They are omnivorous and accept a wide variety of foods, including flakes, pellets, and live foods.


In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Phenacogrammus interruptus (Congo Tetra) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Phenacogrammus interruptus (Congo Tetra) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Congo Tetra with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 114 species compatible with the Phenacogrammus interruptus (Congo Tetra) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (114)

Compatible (59 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Dragon Violet Goby - Gobioides broussonnetii

Dragon Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Swordtail fish - Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail fish

Xiphophorus hellerii

Molly fish - Poecilia sphenops

Molly fish

Poecilia sphenops

Yoyo Loach - Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Guppy fish - Poecilia reticulata

Guppy fish

Poecilia reticulata

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

German Blue Ram - Microgeophagus ramirezi

German Blue Ram

Microgeophagus ramirezi

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Female Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens Female

Female Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Splendens Female

Platy Fish - Xiphophorus maculatus

Platy Fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Red-eyed Tetra - Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Red-eyed Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma viejita

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma viejita

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia

Dwarf Gourami

Colisa lalia

Zebrafish - Danio rerio

Zebrafish

Danio rerio

Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Ember Tetra - Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Ember Tetra

Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Forktail Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Blue-Eye

Pseudomugil furcatus

Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Ruby Tetra - Axelrodia riesei

Ruby Tetra

Axelrodia riesei

Green Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon Simulans

Green Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon Simulans

Boraras Brigittae Fish - Boraras Brigittae

Boraras Brigittae Fish

Boraras Brigittae

Endler Guppy Fish - Poecilia Wingei

Endler Guppy Fish

Poecilia Wingei

Espei Rasbora - Trigonostigma espei

Espei Rasbora

Trigonostigma espei

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil - Pseudomugil paskai

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil

Pseudomugil paskai

Galaxy Rasbora - Danio margaritatus

Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Dwarf Tetra - Hasemania nana

Dwarf Tetra

Hasemania nana

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Semifasciolatus Barb - Puntius semifasciolatus

Semifasciolatus Barb

Puntius semifasciolatus

Moenkhausia Pittieri - Moenkhausia pittieri

Moenkhausia Pittieri

Moenkhausia pittieri

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Bamboo Shrimp - Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

With Reservation (1 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Considerable size difference (39 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Bala Shark - Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Bala Shark

Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Blue Acara - Satanoperca daemon

Blue Acara

Satanoperca daemon

Commando Cichlid - Nimbochromis venustus

Commando Cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Suckermouth Catfish - Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Suckermouth Catfish

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Discus fish - Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Discus fish

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

False Discus - Heros severus

False Discus

Heros severus

Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Lemon Catfish - Hemiancistrus subviridis

Lemon Catfish

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis - Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Red-tailed Black Shark - Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red-tailed Black Shark

Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Flag Cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Butterfly Loach - Beaufortia leveretti

Butterfly Loach

Beaufortia leveretti

Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Food competition (12 Species)

They can live together but you have to be careful since it is likely that the fastest fish will take all the food and leave nothing for their partners who are slow swimmers, so you have to make sure that everyone can eat.


Veil tail Goldfish - Carassius auratus I

Veil tail Goldfish

Carassius auratus I

Telescope goldfish - Carassius auratus II

Telescope goldfish

Carassius auratus II

Celestial eye goldfish - Carassius auratus V

Celestial eye goldfish

Carassius auratus V

Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Wasp Goby - Brachygobius Xanthozona

Wasp Goby

Brachygobius Xanthozona

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Nerite Snail - Neritina sp

Nerite Snail

Neritina sp

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

Compatible if space is enough (3 Species)

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Multis Fish - Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Multis Fish

Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma borellii

Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma borellii

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus
  • Ph: 6 - 7.5
  • Temperature (c°): 24 - 28
  • Measures: 5 cm - 7cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    11 Liters - 3 Gallons
  • Behavior: Peaceful, Shoal
  • Motion: Fast
  • Size: Very small
  • Swimming area: Swim in the middle of the aquarium
  • Water Type: Sweet water