lesandjill
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I am new to the Tropical Fish Forums. I would like to set up a 150-gallon South American rainforest biotope. To that end I have been reading publications because I have been out of the active aquarium field for nearly 50 years. I recently read Randy Carey's Tetras and Barbs and am using it as a guide, since I am primarily interested in stocking the tank with several groups of the small, peaceful, colorful tetras. In Randy Carey's book, he uses size, shape, color and (swimming) behavior as the criteria for selection.
Since tetras constitute a group of fish with some of the most intense colors, I would like to include perhaps four or five different varieties with contrasting colors.
I'm also interested in varieties with different social (swimming) behavior. While whatever species I select should contain a group of at least six, it seems that the group size should be larger for fish that swim in schools. The author divides tetras into groups based upon social behavior: 1. species that form tight schools, 2. species that group or rove in packs and 3. species that school loosely. However, the book does not specify which group each species belongs to (He does give a few examples, such as cardinals and rummy-nose as forming tight schools, "most deep-bodied tetras" as roving in groups or packs. Finally, he is even less definitive when defining the third category. "Many tetra species stay near each other but neither school tightly nor constantly interact individually with each other."
So, I have two questions for anyone with experience with tetras: Which species would you add to provide contrasting colors - red, orange, yellow, blue, green and/or black? Which behavioral group do each species, particularly the ones you recommend, belong to?
Thank you for your time and cooperation. I welcome any suggestions or recommendations you might offer.
P.S. Once I settle on the tetras, I will then deal with other species that inhabit the upper and lower levels of the tank. Finally, I will decide on whether or not to include a centerpiece species that fits the natural habitat - angelfish, discus or South American dwarf cichlids. However, these are questions for another day!
Since tetras constitute a group of fish with some of the most intense colors, I would like to include perhaps four or five different varieties with contrasting colors.
I'm also interested in varieties with different social (swimming) behavior. While whatever species I select should contain a group of at least six, it seems that the group size should be larger for fish that swim in schools. The author divides tetras into groups based upon social behavior: 1. species that form tight schools, 2. species that group or rove in packs and 3. species that school loosely. However, the book does not specify which group each species belongs to (He does give a few examples, such as cardinals and rummy-nose as forming tight schools, "most deep-bodied tetras" as roving in groups or packs. Finally, he is even less definitive when defining the third category. "Many tetra species stay near each other but neither school tightly nor constantly interact individually with each other."
So, I have two questions for anyone with experience with tetras: Which species would you add to provide contrasting colors - red, orange, yellow, blue, green and/or black? Which behavioral group do each species, particularly the ones you recommend, belong to?
Thank you for your time and cooperation. I welcome any suggestions or recommendations you might offer.
P.S. Once I settle on the tetras, I will then deal with other species that inhabit the upper and lower levels of the tank. Finally, I will decide on whether or not to include a centerpiece species that fits the natural habitat - angelfish, discus or South American dwarf cichlids. However, these are questions for another day!
