Tank mates for L095

[MarcW]

Hi Everyone,

I'm starting to think about my large tank, where I plan to house about 6

L095

.

It's 240x92x62 cm LxWxH.

I am having trouble deciding what else to eventually put in the tank, I'm thinking a large group of a single corydoras species, or tenellus if I can find more for the bottom. It's the other inhabitants I'm not sure of.

I'd like a group of fish which are attractive, won't hide, and won't bother the L095 or their young when I spawn them !

I've been thinking of Mesonauta festivus, geophagus, sataneroperca, leporinus, discus or maybe just a load of cardinals.

The water stays around 28c, has a tds of 60, with a reasonable flow, at the surface at least. The substrate is fine sand, there is a lot of bogwood, but still plenty of open space, with some anubias dotted about.

Any suggestions or recommendations would be great, I'm looking for something to look nice, not be challenging to look after, and come from the amazon basin.

[Mol_PMB]

I’ve had a lot of pleasure (and a few spawns) from my group of Biotodoma cupido. Half-way in size between rams and geos, they do well in a shoal of 5-10 fish and are more peaceful than most cichlids.

Other than that, a zillion rummy-nose tetras. They’re the best shoalers and look stunning in a group of 50 or more. My shoal is a mix of all 3 species (Petitella georgiae, Hemigrammus rhodostomus and H.bleheri) and they all swim together.

[MarcW]

They look really nice, a good size as well, even if I don't get them for my large tank, I'll keep an eye out for them and maybe keep them in another rank!

I do really like the idea of a big shoal of small tetras, but it does get expensive! I might have to setup a tank to try and breed some!

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I do really like the idea of a big shoal of small tetras, but it does get expensive! I might have to setup a tank to try and breed some!

Black Neon Tetra (H. herbertaxelrodi), Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) and Pristella Tetra (Pristella maxillaris) are all easy to breed and cheap to buy.

Other people should be able to suggest other species that would work. I've found that if you give them a planted tank and a good diet, most Tetra species will spawn fairly readily, the issue is usually that they promptly eat any eggs or fry.

cheers Darrel

[MarcW]

I have some black neon's, 7 or 8 left from a larger group I've had for many years in a tank with some

Ancistrus sp(l393)

and

Centromochlus schultzi

, I've noticed they seem to be bigger and brighter since I've been feeding baby brine shrimp. If I get time over the weekend, I might put them in one of my empty ~40 litre tanks with a big chunk of java moss, maybe with some fine mesh a few inches off the bottom to protect any eggs, and see if I can get any fry.

Thanks for the idea Darrel!

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I have some black neon's, 7 or 8 left from a larger group I've had for many years in a tank ...... I've noticed they seem to be bigger and brighter since I've been feeding baby brine shrimp. If I get time over the weekend, I might put them in one of my empty ~40 litre tanks with a big chunk of java moss, maybe with some fine mesh a few inches off the bottom to protect any eggs, and see if I can get any fry.

If they don't spawn it might be an age issue, you usually have more success with younger fish. They are quite easy to sex, the females will be larger and much more rounded when you look at them from above (just like a

Corydoras

).

I think they are an under-rated fish, they colour up really nicely with good feeding and they stay higher in the water column than most Tetras. I used then as dithers/target fish for Apistogramma cacatuoides and I got a steady trickle of fry from both species without any intervention. You can see them in the back-ground behind the old female Apistogramma.



I never set up a special spawning tank for them, but I would probably put a good layer of oak leaves in the tank, as well as the moss, they will soften and tint the water. A lot of Tetra eggs and fry do better in dark conditions. A towel over the tank is another option.

If I wanted to condition them (or pretty much any other fish) specifically, I'd try feeding live black-worms and mosquito larvae (so easier in the summer).

cheers Darrel

[Fundulopanchax76]

Tetra s need very soft water ! Fill the tank with rain water. and you can put some catapa leaves for lower acidity.

[MarcW]

There is no shortage of oak leaves in my garden so should be able to find a few! I also have a couple magnolia grandiflora which I've been collecting and drying dead leaves from. I'm sure I have some catappa leaves somewhere too.

I'll start with frozen bloodworm, and baby brine, then try and get some live food going in a bin/bucket in the garden when the weather warms up.

I'm also planning to start collecting rain water too, it'll be interesting to see if they respond differently to rain vs RO.

Thanks for the tip with the towel, I'll keep that in mind.

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I use rain-water in the tanks, but Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) will definitely successfully spawn in harder water. I should also have said that Pristella Tetras are great fry hunters.

cheers Darrel