Penguin Tetra
- Live Arrival Guarantee
- Get free shipping on non-live fish orders over $75 and live fish orders over $300.
- All our live fish, shrimp, snails are care with love and passion, when through minimum of 14 days quarantined and shipped from Splashy Fish facility in Springfield, Virginia, USA
This is only apply to live fish order.
What is Our Live Arrival Guarantee?
Benefit from our extensive experience in shipping live fish. In 2021, our records indicated a mere 0.5% dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate for all live fish orders, compared to the industry standard of 1.5%. These numbers translate to only 5 out of 1000 orders experiencing DOA fish.
At Splashy Fish, customer satisfaction is our priority. That's why we provide a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee on all animals shipped via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Please note - Splashy Fish reserves the right to void Live Arrival Guarantee protection under the following circumstances:
- The customer has chosen USPS First Class Mail as a shipping method.
- The shipping address is a PO Box address
- The order was refused delivery by the customer.
- If the order is returned to the sender for any reason. For instance, an incorrect shipping address, an undeliverable address, etc.
- The order was held for pick up at USPS, UPS, and FedEx offices for longer than 24 hours after the last update on the tracking number.
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not include all the requirements mentioned below
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim is made after the claim period mentioned below.
- The animals are not in their original packaging
Live Arrival Guarantee Claim Period:
For Live Fish and other invertebrates, one and a half hours (1.5 hours) after the posted delivery time.
For Snails: 48 hours after the posted delivery time.
Steps to claim Splashy Fish's Live Arrival Guarantee:
- Take a picture of the shipping box and the shipping label.
- For live fish and other invertebrates: Please provide two pictures of each bag (containing the dead fish) upon arrival. Ensure the images display the bag in its original, unopened condition with the original rubber band intact
- For Snails: Position the snail in one corner of the tank. If the snail does not move within 48 hours, please take several pictures of the snail's opening
- Send an email to DOA@splashyfishstore.com with the subject line: DOA and Your Order Number, or message us on social media.
- In the body of the email, include your tracking number.
- The claim must be sent within the claim period mentioned above.
After submitting the required information, please allow us 1-3 business days to determine the cause of the issue. If the claim is valid and approved by our team, you will
- Receive a store credit for future purchases, excluding the shipping cost, of the dead-on-arrival fish
If the Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not meet all listed requirements, Splashy Fish reserves the right to reject it.
Shipping live animals and plants is a complex process, and temperature plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and secure delivery of your order.
If the highest daytime temperature in your location and the lowest nighttime temperature here in Springfield, Virginia—where our facility is situated—fall below 40°F or exceed 90°F, we will proactively delay your order. This measure is taken to prioritize the well-being of the animals and plants.
For the safety of our living cargo and to protect your investment, we retain the right to suspend shipping as necessary due to extreme weather conditions. Our Splashy Fish team will assess the situation and determine if it is unsuitable to ship, considering the safety of the animals.
To stay informed or address any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our dedicated Splashy Fish Support team via email at support@splashyfishstore.com.
Once our team prints and packs your order, we'll notify you via email. This notification will include your tracking number and the expected arrival day. If you opt for UPS 2 Day shipping, your package should arrive within 2 days after shipment. Similarly, if you choose UPS 1 Day, your order will reach you the day after it is shipped. In the case of orders containing only plants or dry goods, they may be shipped via USPS, provided that this is the selected shipping option during checkout.
We ship all of the customer orders from our warehouse located in Springfield, VA. We pack and ship our orders depending on the orders with the exception of someday we cannot ship out live fish.
All Orders: will be shipped out from Monday to Thursday each week for overnight shipping by UPS.
Sunday: (Splashy Day) Today is the day we let our hard-working team members and our fish to destress and ready for the following week's shipment.
For more information regarding about shipping please visit us our Shipping Policy and Schedule
The Penguin Tetra, also known as the Hockey Stick Tetra or Penguin Fish, is a sleek and energetic schooling species prized for its unique body shape and elegant black line that runs from mid-body to the tip of its tail. This striking design gives it the nickname “Hockey Stick Fish.” Peaceful, active, and hardy, Penguin Tetras are a fantastic choice for community tanks, adding constant movement and contrast to planted aquariums.
Native to the clear streams and tributaries of the Amazon Basin, the Penguin Tetra (Thayeria boehlkei) thrives in gentle-flowing, well-oxygenated waters. In the aquarium, these fish are known for their distinctive swimming posture, slightly angled upward, which, along with their black horizontal stripe, gives them their iconic “penguin-like” look. Perfect for beginner and intermediate aquarists, Penguin Tetra fish adapt easily to a variety of water parameters and tank setups.
A full-grown Penguin Tetra typically reaches 2.5 inches (6 cm) in length. They feature a silvery body with a bold, jet-black line running along their sides that extends to the tail fin, giving them a clean, elegant appearance. When kept in good lighting and a dark substrate, their shimmering silver tone stands out beautifully, especially in large schools.
Penguin Tetras are peaceful, social schooling fish that do best in groups of six or more. They are ideal for planted or blackline community aquariums and coexist harmoniously with species such as Neon tetras, Rasboras, Guppies, Corydoras catfish, and dwarf Gouramis. Avoid aggressive or fin-nipping fish that may disrupt their calm demeanor.
A Penguin Tetra tank should have open swimming space, gentle filtration, and plants or driftwood for cover. Their rhythmic, synchronized swimming makes them a captivating sight in any aquarium.
At Splashy Fish tropical fish store, our Penguin Tetra for sale and other Tetras for sale are tank-bred, grown, and sold with love and care. Visit our fish store online or aquarium in Virginia for more high-quality freshwater fish for sale. We have a lot more fish available for sale, such as betta fish for sale, aquatic plants for sale, freshwater shrimp for sale, and other aquarium supplies.
What You Can Expect From Penguin Tetra
- Peaceful, hardy fish ideal for community aquariums
- Distinctive black line and “hockey stick” swimming style
- Grows up to 2.5 inches when mature
- Best kept in schools of six or more
- Compatible with other small, peaceful tetras types
Penguin Tetra Water Parameters
- Tank Size: Minimum 20 gallons for a small school
- Temperature: 74°–82°F (23°–28°C)
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Hardness: 3–10 dGH
- Filtration: Gentle flow with clean, well-oxygenated water
Penguin Tetra Care Guidelines
- Diet: Omnivorous. Feed a balanced diet of quality flakes, micro pellets, and frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia. Variety enhances color and vitality.
- Tank Setup: Provide open swimming areas and some plants or driftwood for shelter. Use subdued lighting to make their silver and black contrast stand out.
- Behavior: Active, peaceful swimmers that spend most of their time in the middle and upper levels of the tank. Ideal for blackline community aquariums.
Visit here to explore more about How to Care for Tetra Fish.
Penguin Tetra Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do Penguin Tetra live in aquarium tank?
The Penguin Tetra lifespan in a well-maintained aquarium is typically 5 to 6 years, though some individuals can live up to 7 years with excellent care. To help your Penguin Tetra fish thrive long-term, maintain stable water conditions (74°–82°F), perform regular water changes, and provide a balanced omnivorous diet of flakes, micro pellets, and frozen foods. A calm, well-planted community aquarium also reduces stress and promotes longevity.
How big do Penguin Tetra get?
A full-grown Penguin Tetra reaches about 2 to 2.5 inches (5–6 cm) in length. Their slim, torpedo-shaped body and bold black stripe create a striking look in any tank. When kept in schools of six or more, Penguin Tetras display natural schooling behavior and vibrant silver tones that stand out beautifully in planted aquariums.
Are Penguin Tetra aggressive?
No, Penguin Tetras are peaceful and non-aggressive fish that make excellent additions to community aquariums. They coexist well with other calm species like neon tetras, rasboras, guppies, corydoras, and dwarf gouramis. Occasionally, males may engage in mild chasing during breeding, but it’s harmless and short-lived. Providing a spacious tank and keeping them in groups helps minimize stress and ensure stable, social behavior.
