Blind Cave Tetra

Blind Cave Tetra, Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus, is named for the feature that it lacks: eyes. Originally from deep caves in Mexico, it has no need for eyesight. It uses sonar and other heightened senses to navigate and to avoid bumping into other fish. An excellent, hardy beginner’s fish, this fish is an aquarium oddity that shimmers with a pink-white color. This is due to a lack of pigmentation which would also not be needed in its native caved waters. Basically peaceful and not picky about its diet, it goes well in community aquariums. Tetras of equal size such as Bleeding Heart Tetra, Buenos Aires Tetra, Red Blue Tetra, and larger fish of other species will be fine companions. Studies have been conducted to see if eye development could be stimulated. Surprisingly, when lenses from sighed fish were transplanted to the Blind Cave Fish, it began to develop an eye! It is hoped that further study of this phenomenon may prove useful in treating blindness in humans.

Approximate Arrival Size for Blind Cave Tetra: .75 to 2 in.

Detailed Information about this animal.