Food and Eating Habits of the Phoenix Tetra Fish

Choosing food for the Phoenix Tetra is quite easy since this species are not picky eaters. Dried to frozen to live diet, they will happily finish them all. 

What makes Phoenix Tetra fish popular among aquarium hobbyists? The majority of them will rewardingly express that these little creatures have a beautiful, stunning look and peaceful temperament. They are stress-free to take care of, especially are not fussy with what they eat. So, when it comes to the food for the Phoenix Tetra, the choice is unquestionably plentiful. 

Let’s figure out more about the eating habits of tank-bred Phoenix Tetra fish by looking at the way they live in their wild environment.  

What Do Phoenix Tetras Eat in Their Native Home

Phoenix Tetras belong to freshwater fish native to tropical estuaries of South America. Rio Araguaya Basin in Brazil has been recognized to be a highly lush habitat for this kind of aquatic species. The warm, slow-moving, and well-oxygenated streams offer such a lavish food source for them. 

Known as opportunistic omnivores, Phoenix Tetras will feed on everything they get, including insects poorly landing on the stream surface. Other natural foods for the Phoenix Tetra are algae, zooplankton, and other smaller freshwater invertebrates.  

Aquarium Phoenix Tetra Foods

Similar to their wild fellows, in aquarium breeding, these fish are also not demanding about what they eat. As long as fit to their small mouths, Phoenix Tetras will readily and happily have all kinds of dried, frozen, and live foods, as well as fine granules and flakes. Here are some common lists of fish food for the Phoenix Tetra.
- Freeze-Dried Food.  Two common examples are bloodworms (Glycera) and mosquito larvae. It is best consumed 5 to 6 minutes after exposure to room temperature.
- Frozen Food. You can find them at grocery stores or pet shops. It is better to thaw and break them into pieces. 
- Live Food. They are Phoenix Tetra’s favorite: brine shrimp (Artemia), fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), and micro-worms (Panagrellus redivivus). You can collect them from the wild or buy them at the pet shop. Note: maintain they are parasite-free. 
- Prepared Food. Some instances are flake food (meaty and vegetable flakes), pellets, and wafers.  

Aquarium Phoenix Tetra Eating Habits

Phoenix Tetras fall under the category of toothed fish, which also can be attributed to their original wild nature. As a result, they will joyfully feast on live foods, especially the meaty food for the Phoenix Tetra like small shredded or finely cut insects or worms.  Still, there are more things to consider about the eating habits of this species. 
- The feeding time is two times a day.
- Feed them as much as they can take approximately 2 to 3 minutes. 
- Since Phoenix Tetras are schooling or shoaling fish, an automatic food dispenser can be a good idea. This tool may prevent overfeeding.
- It is better to give food in a small amount every day but making sure that each fish in the group is eating.
- A tried-and-true recommendation is to occasionally skip feed them to avoid them being overweight. 
- For new aquarium members, feed them flakes first, and after they get adapted to the artificial habitat, gradually give them live foods. 

A good combination of high-quality food for the Phoenix Tetra, free-dried, frozen, and live ones, will ensure your fish get the necessary nutrients in a balanced amount. A great variation of granules and flakes along with probiotics will reward you with amazing growth and health, as well as the maximum fabulous vibrant color of your aquatic collection. 

References:
Phoenix Tetra (Hemigrammus Filamentosus) Species Profile & Care Guide (aquadiction.world)
Tetra Fish: A-Z Best Types Of Tetra - Fishkeeping World
Phoenix Tetra Care: Diet, Lifespan, Size, Breeding & More – Fish Laboratory
Tetra Fish Care - Everything You Need to Know about Tetra (fishxperts.com)

Share this post