Another Repeated Question

mrscullen5373 · Oct 29, 2011

Heyy sorry its me again with another question.
I am pretty sure this one has been asked repeatedly by many including myself at some point!
But here I am again ....

So. I am soon to be getting a large shoal of tetras.
BUT I CANT DECIDE WHICH!!!!

I have to choose between cardinals/neons/rummy nose tetras.

My instinct is telling me rummys cause i have had them many a time before and they are just so darn playful and active! But another part of me is saying to try a new shoal of a fish I haventhad before, cardinals or neons. At supporting that is the fact that the majority of the 'colours of fish' in my tank atm are Orange and red, silver and black. And even though it spider mean more red with either, the blue (which I am lacking in my tank) of the cardinals is also drawing me to them!! It's so difficultdl!!

please help x

Mikaila31 · Oct 29, 2011

do both cardinals and rummys lol. Problem solved!

Dieses Madchen · Oct 29, 2011

I like the cardinals and rummys as well. they are darn cute and fun to watch.

fishprotector · Oct 30, 2011

I would say Rummy Nose Tetras as I think that they look great, but if you are lacking blue than Cardinals it would be. How about Black Neon Tetras? They have a slightly deeper body and seem to shoal pretty well. They are a little bit bigger though.

N0body Of The Goat · Oct 30, 2011

What is the pH and gH of your tank? If your water is hard and alkaline, you might have more success with Blind Cave Tetras or Lemon Tetras (that are known to tolerate a wide range of conditions), an oddball option could be Indian Glassfish.

mike455555 · Oct 30, 2011

personally i prefer neons than cards

mrscullen5373 · Oct 30, 2011

Thanks for replies. Still so stuck though. How playful and active are cardinals compared to neons and rummys?

James9114 · Oct 30, 2011

depending on your ph cardinals are normally harder to keep than neons especially if you have a ph over 7

Mikaila31 · Oct 30, 2011

I've never thought of one being any harder then the other. Only real difference is cardinals do best at higher temps, neons at cooler temps.

My favorite is actually the rummy nosed tetra. I would have a bunch of them, but last time I bought them only a few made it out of quarantine. Then I ended up with a mixed group of common and false rummys which looked weird. I've found rummys to be quite hardy if they make it out of quarantine. For the last year I've had just one loney rummy because I'm a cheap college student and won't buy him any buddies. I was going too last week, but came home with a bunch of tiny neons cuz they were 1/4 the cost lol.

mrscullen5373 · Oct 31, 2011

I know it sounds silly but i really dont know which to choose!

I want to get it right because obviously these fish will be with me for some time, a few years at least.

AHHHHHH!!! I think its between rummys and cardinals now. I only wish i could have both!!

More help needed I think. Are cardinals playful and active like rummys or less so?

Tizer · Oct 31, 2011

To be honest, neither of them are "playful" in the sense you are thinking. They are common "dither" fish for other species. they are normally quite relaxed shoaling species, which when kept in large numbers can be quite breath taking to watch. How big is your tank?

mrscullen5373 · Oct 31, 2011

Thanks I have had rummys before and they never stopped moving!
But I have never had cardinals.
My tank is 55gallon, only have room for a maximum of 10-12 fish.

mrscullen5373 · Nov 1, 2011

Ok. Now I am thinking that to save me this decision (and regretting it after) I might do the following

Trio of Honey gourami (1male:2female)
12 Harlequin Rasbora
12 Pygmy cory
8 Kuhli Loaches
3 Pitbull pleco
10 Red Phantom tetra
Trio of Apistogramma Borellii (1male:2female)

Is this ok?

Oh and what are your thoughts on umbrella cichlids - borellii?