Filter the water through some peat to aid in turning the water a tea color which they enjoy in their natural habitat. A substrate of river sand with a few branches of driftwood or gnarly roots and a handful of dried leaves is all they really need to keep them healthy and happy. In an aquarium environment, Gold Tetras are perfect for a blackwater biotope setup. They are more generally housed with the Pelvicachromis (Kribensis) species of dwarf cichlids, barbs, rasboras, and the smaller Anabantoids (labyrinth fishes). They do best in groups of at least 6 to 12 individuals and will get along with other smaller South American species such as pencil fish, Apistogramma dwarf cichlids, Corydoras, Loricads, Hyphessobrycon or Hemigrammus.
![gold tetra gold tetra](https://aquadiction.world/img/profile/ornate-tetra-5.jpg)
The Gold Tetra is a peaceful shoaling species that does well in a community aquarium of at least 20 gallons. Adult females have a more rounded belly than the males. The anal fin of male Gold Tetras have a white leading edge and contain more red pigmentation than that the females. Captive bred specimens that have not been infected by the parasite do not have the spectacular gold color that is prized by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts. The usual color of the Gold Tetra is a somewhat dull silvery grey body color with colorless fins.
#GOLD TETRA SKIN#
The deposits are due to a skin reaction that the fish get when infected by a specific type of trematode parasite. Wild caught Gold Tetras collected from several areas in nature are a dazzling metallic gold color that is formed by deposits of guanin.