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Bonita tetra (Moenkhausia bonita) — Characidae

Bonita tetra

Moenkhausia bonita
Family: Characidae

The Bonita tetra (Moenkhausia bonita) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0.0–1.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Bonita tetra is a small characin (Characidae) from fresh water of the Paraguay and upper Parana basins in South America. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a slender to fairly deep, silvery body, often with a spot on the tail base and a glossy lengthwise band. As a schooling fish it swims in clear streams and rivers and eats small insects, larvae and plant material. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bonita tetra?

The Bonita tetra has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Bonita tetra live?

The Bonita tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Bonita tetra get?

The Bonita tetra grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Bonita tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Bonita tetra is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bonita-tetra sourced
English name
Bonita tetra sourced
Scientific name
Moenkhausia bonita
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Moenkhausia

More from the family Characidae

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