Black skirt tetras with shrimp

By the Shrimp Tank Hub editorsUpdated Oct 27, 2026Research-based

The black skirt tetra, also sold as the black widow, butterfly or black tetra, is a deep-bodied characid with black vertical bars and a flowing black "skirt" of dorsal and anal fins (Seriously Fish). It comes from the Rio Paraguay and Guaporé basins in Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, where it lives in small, slow creeks under overhanging plants (Seriously Fish). All fish in the trade are captive bred (Seriously Fish), and Practical Fishkeeping calls them relatively hardy and tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Long-finned and golden ("white skirt") forms are sold, and so, sadly, are artificially dyed fish (Seriously Fish).

Black skirt tetra at a glance

Will black skirt tetras eat shrimp?

• Adult shrimp: at risk. None of our sources tested black skirts with shrimp, but Aquarium Co-Op says to avoid medium to large fish with cherry shrimp, and Practical Fishkeeping's Nathan Hill personally counts the larger tetras among fish that will eventually eat shrimp. A 2.4-inch, fin-nipping tetra fits that description, so in our reading small males and freshly molted shrimp are likely targets.
• Shrimplets: yes. Neale Monks at Practical Fishkeeping says pretty much any active fish, even one as small as a tetra, views hatchling shrimp as food.
• Eggs and berried females: eggs are safe while carried under the tail, but a harassed female may drop them (our reading).

Seriously Fish notes the fin nipping and squabbling stay mostly within the group when they are kept in schools of 12 or more, so a small group in a small tank is the worst setup for shrimp and fish alike. For gentler choices, compare ember tetras with shrimp, green neon tetras with shrimp and black neon tetras with shrimp, or see the full cherry shrimp tank mates list.

Matching the water

Captive-bred black skirts are unfussy about water chemistry (Seriously Fish). Seriously Fish lists 68–79 °F, pH 6.0–7.0 and 5–20 dGH; Maidenhead Aquatics gives 18–26 °C and pH 6.0–7.5. Cherry-type shrimp tolerate 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0 and GH 4–8 (The Shrimp Farm). By our comparison, about 72–77 °F, pH 6.5–7.2 and GH 5–8 suits both. With crystal shrimp and other Caridina we would not combine them at all (our reading). See shrimp tank pH, GH and KH explained and shrimp water parameters.

Tank size and setup

• Size: Seriously Fish keeps a group in a standard 30 × 12 in tank, such as a 20-gallon long.
• Open water plus dense plants: Seriously Fish says they are active and like open swimming space with quieter areas, and color best with dense planting and floating plants to dim the light. Maidenhead Aquatics also suggests a planted tank with floating plants. Dense moss gives shrimp places to hide (Aquarium Co-Op). See java moss for shrimp.
• Cycled tank: black skirts are hardy, but shrimp are not. See how to cycle a shrimp tank.
• Shrimp-safe intake: a sponge filter or pre-filter keeps shrimplets out of the filter (our suggestion). See shrimp-safe filters.

Keep a big school, and skip dyed fish

Maidenhead Aquatics recommends groups of 6 or more and says they may bicker among themselves, which larger groups reduce. Seriously Fish goes further: at least 12 to keep the nipping within the group. Males are slimmer and a little smaller than females, with more pointed dorsal and anal fins (Seriously Fish). Seriously Fish says the black of young fish fades with age. It also says artificially dyed fish go through a stressful process that often shortens their lives considerably, and Maidenhead Aquatics also warns against them, so buy undyed fish.

Other tankmates

Seriously Fish calls the black widow one of the better tetras for a general community and lists livebearers, danios, rasboras, other tetras, Corydoras, small Loricariids and robust dwarf cichlids as companions. Dwarf cichlids hunt shrimp (Aquarium Co-Op), and slow, long-finned fish risk being nipped (our reading), so in a shrimp tank stick to bottom-dwelling catfish. See corydoras with shrimp and otocinclus with shrimp.

Feeding both

Seriously Fish calls them most unfussy omnivores and suggests flakes and granules with regular small live and frozen foods such as Daphnia and bloodworm. Maidenhead Aquatics lists flake, granules and frozen foods. Feed the tetras first, then drop sinking shrimp food into a planted corner (our suggestion). See best shrimp food.

How to add black skirt tetras to a shrimp tank

• Shrimp first. Practical Fishkeeping suggests letting the shrimp colony build up before adding fish; hiding places and well-fed fish reduce losses.
• Consider bigger shrimp. Neale Monks suggests larger shrimp such as Amanos when the fish are likely to eat babies. See Amano shrimp care.
• Acclimate slowly to your water. See how to drip acclimate.
• Have a plan B. If shrimp go missing, move the fish or the shrimp.
• Quarantine the fish separately. Practical Fishkeeping says many fish medications are not safe for invertebrates. If fish get sick, ask a fish veterinarian or an experienced store about treatment that won't harm the shrimp. See how to quarantine and is copper toxic to shrimp.

Common mistakes

• Buying 3 or 4 black skirts, which concentrates the nipping on tankmates.
• Adding long-finned fish such as bettas or fancy guppies.
• Buying dyed fish, which Maidenhead Aquatics says usually show lines of injected fluorescent pigment.
• Expecting a breeding cherry colony to survive alongside a school of 2-inch tetras.

Track it

Log temperature, pH, GH and TDS on the free Water Parameter Log printable so you can keep the tank in the range both species share.

Frequently asked questions

Will black skirt tetras eat cherry shrimp?

They will eat shrimplets, and in our reading small or freshly molted adults are at risk. They reach about 2.4 inches and have a fin-nipping reputation (Seriously Fish); we rate them a high risk.

Are black skirt tetras fin nippers?

They have that reputation. Seriously Fish says keeping a school of at least 12 usually keeps the nipping and squabbling within the group.

How many black skirt tetras should I keep?

At least 12 per Seriously Fish, or 6 or more per Maidenhead Aquatics, with larger groups reducing bickering.

How big do black skirt tetras get?

About 2.4 inches (60 mm standard length) per Seriously Fish, or 6 cm per Maidenhead Aquatics.

Is a black skirt tetra the same as a black widow tetra?

Yes. Gymnocorymbus ternetzi is sold as the black widow, black skirt, butterfly or black tetra (Seriously Fish).

Are dyed black skirt tetras OK?

Seriously Fish says artificially dyed fish go through a stressful process that often shortens their lives considerably; Maidenhead Aquatics also advises avoiding them.

Sources: Seriously Fish, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (black widow tetra) (Rio Paraguay and Guaporé basins in Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina; small slow creeks with overhanging vegetation; all captive bred; also called butterfly, black skirt or black tetra; long-finned, golden "white skirt" and dyed forms, dyeing stressful and life-shortening; black fades with age; 60 mm SL; 75 × 30 cm base, 20-gallon long; open swimming space, dense planting, floating plants; 20–26 °C, pH 6.0–7.0, 5–20 dGH; unfussy omnivore, flakes, granules, Daphnia, bloodworm; generally peaceful, fin-nipping reputation, at least 12; livebearers, danios, rasboras, tetras, Corydoras, Loricariids, robust dwarf cichlids; males slimmer); Maidenhead Aquatics (fishkeeper.co.uk), Black widow tetra (6 cm; 18–26 °C; pH 6.0–7.5, dH to 18; mostly tank-raised; shoals of 6+; bicker among themselves, larger groups help; planted tank with floating plants; beware dyed fish with injected pigment; gold or white widow form; flake, granules, frozen foods); Practical Fishkeeping, Are black widows a good first tetra to breed? (relatively hardy, tolerate a wide range of conditions; commercially bred); Aquarium Co-Op, Cherry shrimp tank mates (avoid medium to large fish; dwarf cichlids hunt shrimp; dense foliage hides babies); Practical Fishkeeping, Can I safely add some shrimp? (any active fish, even a small tetra, sees hatchling shrimp as food; larger shrimp such as Amanos as an alternative); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (larger tetras and barbs likely to eat shrimp in the author's view; build the colony first; hiding places and well-fed fish reduce losses; many fish medications unsafe for invertebrates); The Shrimp Farm, Red rili shrimp tank set-up and care (cherry-type Neocaridina: 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0, GH 4–8). The shared water zone, the high shrimp-risk rating and the stocking suggestions are our own.