Has anybody had experience with this tetra?

BarbH

Today I went to check out a lfs to see what they stocked, as I am currently working on my list for stocking my 72 gallon which I will be hopefully getting set up in the next month or so. While I wa there I saw a beautiful looking tetra that they where selling as a candy cane tetra. The guy that was working there said they are a fairly peaceful tetra, had already mentioned that I was planning on getting angelfish for this tank. So I got home and started researching what I could find out about these guys. From what I can see, they seem to be a good choice with angels. I was wondering if anyone on here has kept them and how did they do? They do seem to be known under a few different names, the scientific name for them is Hyphessobrycon bentosi, also known as Roberts Tetra, White tipped tetra and Bentos' tetra were some of the names that I saw. My loose stocking plans right now are angelfish, another species or two of tetras with these guys possibly, something like False Penguin Tetra or Brilliant Rummy Nose Tetra (depends on what I can find or have ordered for me) and a group of bottom dwellers, probably some type of cory. Thanks and look forward to hearing about any experience anyone might have had with these guys.
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Byron

One of my favourite tetras. I have had a group for several years in my 115g. As it mentions in the profile, this species is well suited to angelfish, and it will add some nice colour. The profile explains the confusion over the names.

My group are very sedate, and always have been, one of the reasons they suit angelfish. They remain in their group, in the quietest part of the aquarium, under plant leaves (floating plants are essential), in the lower 1/2 of the water column. They do not like light, so another good similarity with angels, nor water flow, yet another. One really cannot say anything negative about this species. Get a good group, no less than 12. I'm down to 6 presently, thanks to a nasty protozoan a few months back; I also have five Bleeding Hearts and these are mixed in with the Roberts Tetra continually, which is not surprising given that they are in the same clade and thus genetically very close.

I also have over 20 rummynose in this tank, a mix of Hemigrammus bleheri and Petitella georgiae. These are always on the move, swimming end to end in a fairly tight group, also in the lower 1/2 of the water. While these being linear might be seen as food by angels, if the angels are small when the rummys are introduced this should not be a problem as the rummys grow.

Byron.

BarbH

Thanks Byron for the input. For the 72 what I am thinking is a group of 5 angels, they will be young probably around nickle to quarter size depending on where I get them. A group of 15 of the Roberts Tetra, 15 of the brilliant rummy nose, 15 of the bleeding heart tetras, and a group of around 15 cories, undecided about which ones depends on availability. The tank is going to be well planted and I will be running a canister filter. I do have other empty tanks that can be used for any pairs that may form with the angels. Should this stocking with without being overstocked? Thanks for your input

Byron

I would leave out the Bleeding Heart. This species gets large, over 3 inches, and 15 plus the 15 Roberts would seem quite a mob to me, in a 70g. And I would increase the rummys to no less than 20.

One of our members a while back had Bleeding Hearts than nipped her angelfish and she had to remove them. I have never observed nipping, or any near-attempt to nip, from my BH, but then I don't have angelfish. This might have something to do with this species being tank raised; many of our more common fish are coming down with all sorts of issues because of this. The Roberts will be wild caught.

All fish mentioned are lower level, which is fine as it leaves the upper half to the angelfish and I think that is sensible. Though some hatchetfish at the surface are worth considering but only if you want surface activity. With floating plants you won't even see the hatchets anyway.

Byron.

BarbH

Thanks Byron Hadn't heard of the bleeding hearts nipping, but it is good to know. Will have to check out the profile on the hatchet fish.

Byron

The MArble (Carnegiella strigata) are OK but not the other species in this genus, they are too delicate. But for a more robust "silver" type, the common Silver Hatchetfish is ideal. I had a lovely group of these, then that protozoan decimated them down to just two. This species is more active than the much more sedate species in Carnegiella.

Aurie

Oh Oh I have these..!! I love them. I noticed that mine have much longer and feathery top fins than the ones I've seen recently. I have mine in a 29 with 1 dwarf sunset gourami and 5 corydoras and a female bristlenose. They stay in the bottom half of my aquarium but are the first ones to the top for food. They are truely a bunch of dorks! The males will flare at eachother and they both turn sideways. It's comical to watch. My husbands call them clowns of the aquarium.