Astyanax mexicanus

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Blind Cave Tetra
Blind Cave Tetra
Species	Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus
Difficulty	Easy
Min. Tank Size	56.781 liters 56,781.177 mL 15 US Gallons (56.8L)
Size	8.89 cm 3-3.5 " (7.6-8.9cm)
pH	6.8 - 7.3
Temp.	296.483 K 23.333 °C 533.67 °R 298.706 K 25.556 °C 537.67 °R74 -78 °F (23.3-25.6°C)
Water Hardness	6-10
Stocking Ratio	2:3 M:F
Availability	Uncommon
Diet	warning.png“” cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. Pellet Foods Flake Foods Live Foods
Life Span	2-8 years

[edit] Alternative names

Blind Cave Tetra, Cave Blind Tetra, Mexican Tetra, Silvery Tetra, Blind Cavefish

[edit] Other Scientific Names

Anoptichthys jordani

[edit] Sexing

The females are slightly larger and wider.

[edit] Tank compatibility

A mid-swimmer, this fish can be aggressive and nippy, so keep in a good shoal of at least 4 and with fast-swimming tankmates in a spacious tank.

[edit] Diet

Will accept most foods including pellets and flake as well as live/frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp.

[edit] Feeding regime

Feed once or twice a day.

[edit] Environment Specifics

The Blind Cave Tetra is found in dark caves in Mexico. Not fussy about aquascapes and adaptable to most water conditions.

[edit] Behaviour

It needs to be kept in a good shoal to avoid it nipping at other tank mates. Keep at least five and preferably more. They are fast swimmers and good-nature fish, which get on well with other fish species and leave smaller fish alone. They stay mainly in the middle zone.

[edit] Identification

The most striking thing about this fish is it's lack of eyes and lack of colour, almost pale pink in appearance. The fish is born with eyes but skin grows over them as they mature.

[edit] Pictures

[edit] External links

• Fishbase
• Mongabay
• Seriously Fish