Paraguay Tetra Compatability (Aphyocharax Paraguayensis

[Cichlids_lover1010]

My 3 ft has finally cycled and I'm keeping corydoras and German blue rams
Are these little tetras compatible?
Or should I stick with rummy nose
I saw these at my lfs and they looked good.
Thanks

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Paraguay/Dawn/Panda Tetras can apparently be very fiesty for small fish, I looked them up when I saw some in Totton's Creature Comforts store in the summer. From googling, it seemed these fish need large groups (12+, like Tiger Barbs) to minimise the odds of the tetras killing each other, while I came across numerous posts about tankmates cowering away after the introduction of the tetra because of nipping and aggressive behavior.

The most intresting thing I read was that Corydoaras hastatus (one of the "pygmy" species) were completely left alone as tankmates, as these catfish have an uncanny resemblance to A. paraguayensis, with very similar black/white patch just before the tail fin.

Besides the aggression issue, these tetra would not do well at the temperature you should be keeping GBR (~27-28C), as they are most of a sub-tropical to mid tropical species. This may also apply to your catfish, which species do you already have?

 

[Wills]

Already well covered by Goat Just wanted to second what he said and in particular about your German Blue Ram.

Wills

 

[Cichlids_lover1010]

I haven't got no fish as of yet.
But I want the gbr and corys. So I might get rummy nose instead.
Thanks for the info guys

 

[Wills]

Ah that is excellent news!!! Go for Sterbai Cories with those Rummy Nose Tetras and you have the perfect Blue Ram tank King Tiger Plecs can work in that set up as well.

Just make sure you set your heater up at around 28c and lower the water you are best using alder cones, almond leaves and drifwood to lower the ph to around 6.5. Dont use ph down products though as this is unreliable - you could use peat in your filter but this is expensive and can colour your water where as the cones and leaves will not and it makes for a nice natural looking tank as well. It is quite an easy way to do it as well - you could either start your new fish in tap water and slowley add more leaves and cones and it will gradually get the levels down or get the cones and leaves now and when you get the fish from the shop do a very slow aclimatisation to the lower ph as the store may not have low ph to start with.

Actually if you have just done the fishless cycle you would be best off doing it gradually as the lower ph will affect the bacteria so best of getting the fish then lowering the ph gradually

Wills