Mixing Different Species Of Tetras/rams?

[Livewire88]

I am looking to fully stock my tank and would like to add some more Tetra Fish, and possibly 2 more Rams.

I have 12 Cardinal Tetra at the moment and would like to add some Harlequin Rasbora or Black Widdow Tetra.
Would mixing Tetra Species cause any issues?

Also I have 2 Electric Blue Rams, and would like to add 2 Berman Blue Rams and would also like to know if this would likley cause problems?

Final question is I would like to add a couple of snails but dont want them eating my plants, do all snails eat plants or are there any type that dont eat plants?

Any help or advice would be great

 

[Juggler75]

Malayan Trumpet Snails are good for aereating substrate and don't eat plants. Colony can grow to pest proportions if over fed mind.
Aren't Electric Blue and German Blue the same species with the Electric Blues being line bred from Germans? Shouldn't think another species of tetra would cause any harm IF there is the room.

Hang on a more knowledgeable member will be along in a minute to give better advice I'm sure.

 

[minnnt]

Apple Snails won't eat the majority of plants, but they loved my Pogostemon.

As for adding 2 more Rams... (Berman? ) i would advise against it as they may interbreed with you EB's. Maybe look into a pair of Apisto's if wanting another small Cichlid? Maybe a pair of Keyholes?

Tetra's will mix happily, but i would be weary of the Widdows, they can be a bit nippy, so i would suggest the Harlequins!

 

[cynic]

Some of the bigger tetra can be a bit nippy in smaller numbers. My columbians have to be in a group or they get nervous for example. Pretty much so long as they have sufficient numbers to shoal properly 6 to 8 for example as a minimum things will be fine.

Rummy noses would be good too esp with the black sand, or bleeding heart tetra's although they need low nitrates apparently, the black widows might blend in a bit too much.

 

[Livewire88]

lol Berman!! you know what I ment

Apisto's look great but I thought they were quite feisty? I would love to add 2 of those.
And I do very much like Harlequins so would be happy to add some of these.

Taking into acount my present stocking do you think I would be OK to add 6-8 Harlequins and 2 Apisto's?

My final stocking would then be;

2 Electric Blue Rams
2 Apistogrammas
12 Cardinal Tetras
6 Harlequins
6 Corrydoras
4 Male Guppies
3 Ghost Shrimp
2 Apple Snails

Seems to many fish to me

 

[cynic]

lol Berman!! you know what I ment

Apisto's look great but I thought they were quite feisty? I would love to add 2 of those.
And I do very much like Harlequins so would be happy to add some of these.

Taking into acount my present stocking do you think I would be OK to add 6-8 Harlequins and 2 Apisto's?

My final stocking would then be;

2 Electric Blue Rams
2 Apistogrammas
12 Cardinal Tetras
6 Harlequins
6 Corrydoras
4 Male Guppies
3 Ghost Shrimp
2 Apple Snails

Seems to many fish to me

Same number of fish as me , although i just have several large groups. The big group of HR's is amazing to watch

 

[minnnt]

Well knock the Apisto's on the head then and go with 10 Harlequins instead. Seems a shame to detract from your Electric Blue 'Bermans'

You would probably manage 12 Harlequins... especially if you can source the Copper Harlequins as they tend to stay a little smaller... I have 10 in my 180 that is 3ft, so your 200 would be fine to stock a larger number. Nip down to your local P@H and have a look at their Harley's as they're usually the more expensive Coppers being mis-sold.

Personally, if wanting to add another small cichlid i would go with a pair of Keyholes.

 

[Livewire88]

lol Berman!! you know what I ment

Apisto's look great but I thought they were quite feisty? I would love to add 2 of those.
And I do very much like Harlequins so would be happy to add some of these.

Taking into acount my present stocking do you think I would be OK to add 6-8 Harlequins and 2 Apisto's?

My final stocking would then be;

2 Electric Blue Rams
2 Apistogrammas
12 Cardinal Tetras
6 Harlequins
6 Corrydoras
4 Male Guppies
3 Ghost Shrimp
2 Apple Snails

Seems to many fish to me

Same number of fish as me , although i just have several large groups. The big group of HR's is amazing to watch

Thats the problem, you have a 5ft tank, I have a 3.2ft tank

 

[cynic]

Ah

 

[Livewire88]

Well knock the Apisto's on the head then and go with 10 Harlequins instead. Seems a shame to detract from your Electric Blue 'Bermans'

You would probably manage 12 Harlequins... especially if you can source the Copper Harlequins as they tend to stay a little smaller... I have 10 in my 180 that is 3ft, so your 200 would be fine to stock a larger number. Nip down to your local P@H and have a look at their Harley's as they're usually the more expensive Coppers being mis-sold.

Personally, if wanting to add another small cichlid i would go with a pair of Keyholes.

You will think I am telling fibs now, but I went into my local P@H yesterday and was looking at the Harlequins. I have just done a google search and it seems they do have the Copper Harlequins, and the best bit is that all the fish in the store seemed happy and active, I did not find 1 dead fish in any tank. I have been to other local P@H stores and never bought anything because of the amount of dead fish and lack of activity.

So tomorrow (If I can find the time) I am going to buy 10 Copper Harlequins. And I will look into a pair of Apistos/Keyholes to add in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again for all the help, (especially Minnnt who seems to help all the time)

 

[minnnt]

Told you so! I find my local P@H's great tbh... I'm a fan.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I had apisto,congo tetra, cardinals, german rams and Harlequins all in the same tank, the tetra were all in 12+ groups no problems at all. Soon as the apisto started breeding the male and rams would fight lke mad. Rams rehomed