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Silver tetra (Piabina argentea) — Characidae

Silver tetra

Piabina argentea
Family: Characidae

The Silver tetra (Piabina argentea) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7.3 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The silver tetra is a small characin (Characidae) from fresh water of the Parana and Paraguay basins in South America. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, silvery body with fine dark longitudinal markings and a spot on the tail base. As a schooling fish it swims in clear streams and rivers and eats small insects, larvae, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Silver tetra?

The Silver tetra has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Silver tetra live?

The Silver tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Silver tetra get?

The Silver tetra grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Silver tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Silver tetra is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zilver-tetra sourced
English name
Silver tetra sourced
Scientific name
Piabina argentea
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Piabina

More from the family Characidae

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