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In a lfs yesterday, I ran across a tetra that I'd never before seen or heard of. It was labeled as the "Catalina tetra" (I'm pretty sure I spelled that right). There was only one left in stock, and it cost about five dollars U.S. The fish was very interesting, to say the least. It was about an inch long, though the employee (one that I trust somewhat) said that it would grow another inch. It was silvery-gray in color, but had black (if I remember correctly) pectoral fins. Those fins were what made the fish so attractive to me, because they were long and swept-back. For some reason, they reminded me of hatchetfish fins. I guess that they are fairly similar in design.

Anyways, has anyone heard of this fish? The employee said that he was trying to get more in, since they only had the one. I really liked the look of this tetra, it is worth buying (to me). Too bad my tank is fully stocked.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

They sound nice Nick.

Is there anyway you can get a photo of one?

it seems now that i work at petsmart i always get offers for fish that are too big or they people are moving. so i always keep space for such cases, i even setup a 29usg just for unexpected fish.

i woudve got him, but i dont know if its rare
maybe when the others come in you can start a school of C.tetras

congrates on ur find

Last edited by BeastKeeper at 30-Dec-2004 20:56

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any pictures or information for this fish. I searched the web, to no avail. Even Fishbase doesn't have a mention of this tetra, unless I looked under the wrong name. They mentioned a Characin, but this one grows to over 18 cm. I doubt that it is the one I saw. Hopefully the store will be able to find out some info, so I can follow-up on the tetra. I really like this fish, and wouldn't mind paying $5 apiece to make a school. Like I said though, I don't have the room! My only tank is fully stocked...

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I'm happy to say that I can solve your mystery -- Capitol Aquarium in Sacramento had a tankful of these little guys earlier this year, and by luck there was one Latin American website listed on Google that described them under that name (it since seems to have vanished).

The reason it looked like a hatchetfish is that it IS a hatchetfish, or at least is frequently called the "Black-Winged Hatchetfish" -- although it's also called the "Catalina Butterfly", simply the "Catalina", and, oddly, the "Sardina". its scientific name is Triportheus rotundatus (although even there, there seem to be two alternative scientific names!), and you can find it under that name in a fair number of places -- including photos at http://www.angelicus-terraqua.com/mcgallerypro/index.php?start=250&album=18
and http://www.zoopet.com/akvarium/fisk.asp?NR=484 .

Yup, that looks like the one I saw. Very striking fish, I'd love to have them in a tank someday. Thanks for the help!

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

thats cool! hey sirbooks!~