Gold Blue Eyed Congo Tetras…..finally got some decent pics

[bgarthe60 77]

My 75g tank has 13 Congo Tetras (Phenacogrammus interruptus) and 7 Gold Blue Eyed Congo Tetras (Phenacogrammus aurantiacus) that get along great. Getting pics is tough bc they are pretty active in the tank.

 

[Back in the fold14]

A very nice looking Tetra .

 

[bgarthe60 77]

Sometimes things just work out for pics.

 

[GaryE20 18]

It really is an outstanding fish. From what I can see, they are very sensitive to ship, much like lampeyes. But if they come in well, they do well in aquariums. For we North Americans, the extra distance from Africa combined with the distances inside our continent can be a problem with fish that need their oxygen like these.

I had some when they first hit the hobby and loved them. If I'd been able to breed them they would be stars of my fishroom now, as you just don't get tired of watching a fish like that.

They seem to originate in a different part of the Congo system than interruptus do. If I were making a non geography based African tank, I'd love to see them in with Cameroonian Procatopus similis or nototaenia. In a big tank with traditional Congos, and maybe with the slow developing Alestopetersius smykilai I have here (if they ever develop into anything) and with yellow congos (Alestopetersius caudalis) it would be quite a sight. Add Alestopetersius brichardi, the red Congo, and it would be really something. I had a male only group (all that arrived) of red Congos, and they lived a very long time, and were great fish.

For the record as a possible tankmates, though smaller at 2 inches, here's a Procatopus similis killie.

 

[Magnum Man60 174]

I had 3 of them for 2-3 years in my African tank… alas, they died off, not sure my fault or theirs, but it was one of my favorites…

 

[bgarthe60 77]

I got mine from PredatoryFins last winter and….so far….they’re doing really well. …….knock on wood….