Our Guide To Keeping Bucktooth Tetra Fish

1. About Fish Species:

   • Scientific name: Exodon paradoxus
   • Common name: Bucktooth Tetra
   • Family: Characidae
   • Origin: Amazon River Basin, South America
   • Adult length: 8 cm (3 inches)
   • Lifespan: 5 to 7 years
   • Diet: Carnivore
   • Care Level: Moderate
   • Temperament: Aggressive

2. Tank Setup:

   • Bucktooth Tetras require a spacious tank with plenty of swimming room. A minimum tank size of 150L (40 gallons) is recommended for a small school of these fish.
   • Provide a dark substrate, driftwood, and rock formations to mimic their natural environment. Avoid delicate plants, as they may damage them during feeding or swimming.

3. Water Parameters:

   • Bucktooth Tetras thrive in slightly acidic to neutral water conditions, with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.
   • Maintain the water temperature between 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F).

4. Filtration and Water Flow:

   • These fish prefer moderate water flow. Use a strong filter to maintain clean, well-oxygenated water, as they produce a fair amount of waste.

5. Diet:

   • Bucktooth Tetras are primarily carnivores and should be fed a diet of live or frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and small feeder fish.
   • Supplement with high-protein pellets or flakes to ensure a balanced diet.

6. Tank mates:

   • Bucktooth Tetras are aggressive and can be fin-nippers. They are best kept in a species-only tank or with similarly robust and fast-moving fish.
   • Avoid housing them with smaller, slower, or long-finned fish that may become targets.

7. Behavior and Compatibility:

   • Bucktooth Tetras are active and aggressive predators, often exhibiting schooling behavior when kept in groups of 6 or more.
   • They thrive when kept in larger groups to minimize aggression toward tank mates and to encourage their natural schooling habits.