Coral Red Pencilfish with Severum?

[Max L]

I have a 45 gallon tank that houses one severum and 4 candy cane tetras. I’m looking to replace the candy canes with a more unique schooling fish, and I’m really liking the coral red pencilfish, but they only get to be about an inch and a half. Do anyone of you think the severum will try eating the pencils, or do you think they’re fast enough to avoid him?

 

[mrrobxc]

Yes. The severums will eat them as they grow. Even adult discus or angels will try to eat them.

 

[Max L]

Yes. The severums will eat them as they grow. Even adult discus or angels will try to eat them.

Thanks for the advice. I’m back to the drawing board for looking for a good schooling fish

 

[mrrobxc]

What species of severums do you have?

 

[Max L]

What species of severums do you have?

Gold Severum. Here’s the most recent picture I can find.

 

[mrrobxc]

Any deeper bodied tetra will work. What color scheme are you looking for and where in the water column do you want them?

Also, what are the other tankmates and what’s the size of the tank? Possibilities are endless.

 

[mrrobxc]

NM, just noticed it’s a 45 gallon. That tank will be small once the fish gets bigger.

 

[Lilyann]

If you want different schoolers you could try some more unusual tetras in the hyphessobrycan family. They are a deeper bodied tetra that has some that are very colorful.
Here is one that I have:
h. nigricinctus


Also look at hyphessobrycon margitae "Peru" ( "Gold-Red line tetra") or the more rare ( and more expensive) h. cyanotaenia or wadai.