Name: Bucktooth Tetra (Exodon Tetra) Max Size: Up to 2.5 inches (6 cm) Recommend pH: 6.0-7.5 Recommended Temperature (°F): 75-82°F (24-28°C) Diet: Bucktooth Tetras are omnivorous and have a varied diet. They will readily accept high-quality flake foods but should also be offered live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and small insects. Including vegetable matter like spirulina-based flakes or blanched vegetables is beneficial. These tetras have unique teeth adapted for crushing snails and small crustaceans, so offering occasional live or frozen snails can be beneficial for their dental health. Temperament: Peaceful Schooling or Non-Schooling Fish: Schooling Fish (Bucktooth Tetras are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least six individuals to create a natural social structure and minimize stress.) Possible types of tank mates: Bucktooth Tetras are peaceful and can be kept with other peaceful community fish. They are compatible with small tetras, rasboras, peaceful gouramis, and other non-aggressive species. Avoid keeping them with larger, aggressive fish that may harass or prey on them. Behavior: Bucktooth Tetras, also known as Bucktoothed Tetras or Exodon paradoxus, are fascinating fish known for their unique dental adaptation. They have prominent, elongated front teeth that give them a distinctive appearance. These specialized teeth allow them to crush the shells of snails and other small prey in their natural habitat. In the aquarium, they exhibit a lively and active behavior, constantly exploring their surroundings and swimming in a shoaling pattern. Bucktooth Tetras are fast and agile swimmers, often darting around the tank. They are curious and may nip at the fins of slow-moving or long-finned tank mates, so careful consideration should be given to their tank mates. Fun Fact: Bucktooth Tetras are native to the Amazon Basin in South America, where they inhabit slow-moving rivers and flooded areas. Their unique teeth and feeding behavior have earned them the nickname "vampire tetra" due to their ability to tear through the flesh of other fish. However, they are not true bloodsuckers like vampire fish. The bucktoothed adaptation allows them to consume a variety of prey, including small snails and crustaceans, adding to their versatility as omnivorous feeders. Despite their appearance and reputation, Bucktooth Tetras are generally peaceful and can be a captivating addition to a well-maintained aquarium.
