Hello! I am stocking a 75 gallon freshwater tank. I don't want to overcrowd or run into incompatibility issues, so I am seeking advice. The tank has live plants and I am running an Eheim 2217. I currently have 8 black widow tetras and 8 serpae tetras. I am considering 8-12 bloodfin tetras, 8 lemon tetras, and 6 emerald catfish (Brochis splendens). I think I will have fish swimming at all levels with this stocking scheme. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance! :-D
bloodfins would probably be OK, but the lemons might get harassed by one or all of the others, space and numbers may help, but each of those can be fin nippers, especially the serpae tetras
Do you mean the bloodfins are nippers too? I have read that the black widows and serpaes are...so the lemons are much more peaceful? I didn't intend to start out with fin nippers but I think these (black widows and serpaes) are so pretty and so far they have left each other alone.
potentially, it's been a while since I've kept them and I don't remember them being particularly troublesome, but they are known to nip, Byron has told a story of how some Dawn tetras (different species, same genus) he had dominated one of his tanks, so just something to be aware of
the size of the 75 gal helps, as they may all be able to find their own space, the bloodfins will generally stay in the upper regions, while the serpae will likely stay nearer the substrate
the size of the 75 gal helps, as they may all be able to find their own space, the bloodfins will generally stay in the upper regions, while the serpae will likely stay nearer the substrate[/quote]
yes, thanks; I was hoping to fill the top with something pretty and the serpae do go lower in the tank than the black widows (fascinating stuff!), actually eating food meant for the snails off of the bottom. Any knowledge of whether serpaes would bother corys or other catfish?
I concur with what Quantum has advised. And on the Bloodfins, all species in this genus tend to be feisty, to use a "kind" term, but this always means the possibility is there for this to turn nasty. And yes, the so-called Dawn or sometimes Panda Tetra, Aphyocharax paraguayensis to give it its accurate name, is a terror unimaginable in so small and pretty a fish. Twice I've tried this fish, but they are stand-alone in their own tank. Many horror stores can be found among aquarists. I would be careful of any species in the genus.
As you have a good sized space, may I offer a suggestion that you re-think the fish species entirely. While sufficient numbers and space can mellow the Serpae and Black Widow/Skirt, you are restricting other options with these fish. There are many colourful tetra and other fish within the characins that will live peacefully, but adding even one of these questionables can upset the applecart, so to speak. There can be no hard and fast rules, but there is "normal" traits and it is best to assume these rather than hope for something contrary to the norm and risk the other fish.
We have many tetra in our profiles, and there are the closely-related pencilfish and hatchetfish.
Byron.
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