Jaguars with Tetras?

[KGlo]

I'm setting up a 90 gal. South American biotope tank and was wondering if it would be safe to keep jaguar catfish and tetras in the same tank?

[Silurus]

What kind of tetras are you thinking of? Medium- to large-sized species would probably be OK.

[KGlo]

I wanted to do a big school of neons, I don't know if them being in a school would give them some protection or just make them an all you can eat buffet. There are other catfish that I want that I know won't eat small fish that I could put in my 90 gal. Instead but jaguars are just so beautiful, I'd really love to get a couple.

[Silurus]

I'd say you'd be risking it with neons. Larger, deeper-bodied tetras (e.g. Buenos Aires) would be more feasible.

[KGlo]

Ok, thanks. Just out of curiosity, how well would a couple of jaguar cats do in a 20 gal. tank? I have one that's not being used for anything atm.

[Birger]

Are you talking about

Liosomadoras oncinus

, I have four adults that just recently gobbled up a group of

Gymnogeophagus balzanii

that were 2 to 2.5 inches long SL...I thought they would be safe...

Birger

[Martin S]

It's curious as I know they are predatory but I have two with rummynose and cardinals and don't appear to lose any...I said that quietly right?

[KGlo]

I see... well I think i'll try them with neons and if the neons start to disappear i'll move the Jaguars into my 20 gallon.

[nvcichlids]

To me, a 20 gallon tank is too small for jags..

I also agree that the tetras are in danger. Whether you are lucky like martin or not, they still are at risk. I would go with some Diamond tetras, but even those COULD be at risk.

[KGlo]

Yeah I did a lot more research on jags and I'm not going to get them unless I can find a bigger tank. For my 90 gallon I'm getting 2 Acanthodoras spiniosissmus which I have had with neons before and had no trouble and I moved my two microglanis iheringi into the 90 as well. There are lots of hiding spaces so they should get along fine. Also the two iheringi shared a cave with a 5 inch striped Raphael before I moved them. So everything should be fine!

[N0body Of The Goat]

They wouldn't be biotope correct, but I have 3 juvenile (~10cm SL, 6-7cm deep) Distichodus altus and a larger/mature Distichodus cf. fasciolatus in my African 6-footer, my ~15cm SL Chrysichthys ornatus is not capable of taking them... Despite its ~3cm diameter gape!