Tapajos and Serpae Tetra?
- Thread starter Holt
- Start date
I looked back at this thread and realized I should give a little more detail if anyone really were wondering about the outcome of serpae tetra and tapajos.
They got an upgrade to a 75g tank, made friends with a little blue guy who tripled in size and is a chubby blue guy now, and just a few days ago were joined by 6 denisonii barbs that I waited FOREVER for (Which I'm proud of myself for not giving in to the temptation to get something else).
Overall my opinion is that they make a FANTASTIC tank mate, their size and color compliments the geos perfectly. Also I have never once seen cross specie aggression in my tank between the geos and serpaes. The only stipulations are that my geos and the majority of my serpae grew out together, I've added to the tetras very slowly, one or two at a time, and every time the new serpae tends to be more aggressive than the rest even a few weeks after. IMO I would not put a who school of new serpae in with geos even if they were established in the tank.
One of the most important things I've realized to keep both species happy is some kind of large plants or coverage, not just rocks and low plants but some kind of large plant that creates shade. Once I added that the entire atmosphere changed in my tank and there was much less turf wars and the serpaes seem to be most comfortable hanging out in the some kind of tall foliage.
Also I just realized that there isn't a good pic of the serpaes, ill have to get one later. They really are beautiful fish once they are comfortable. They are much less active than I expected, they tend to school around my tallest plant or even under some of the rock caves. I have 1 Large long fin and 13 or so short fin, I use to have 2 long fin and they looked like the parents to all the shorter fined ones lol. I'm on the look out for another long fin. Honestly if I could do it again I would take my time and get all long fin, I think they are so beautiful.
In the end I'll still be on the look out for aggression between them and will come up with a plan if there ever is, I've been dreaming what to do with the 55g these guys came from...the cycle goes on ?
Thats the dump site from 2 different dig sites, I use to smooth it out but I kinda like it because it creates more dynamic in the tank and breaks lines of site. Its not nearly that deep in the rest of the tank, just a weird perspective.
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Nice! I actually have 6 Denison Barbs and a group of Red Serpae and Columbian Tetra in with my RHT (and Severums), they do all really work well. Even in smaller numbers, my serpae never bothered the Geo's, the biggest culprit of fin nipping is actually the Geos infighting.
I've had my group of Serpae for 4.5 years and am down to 5 from my original group of 12. I'm actually in the process of growing out 22 lemon tetras to replace them.
Nice, there is a vid on YouTube I saw of some lemons and geos if I remember right.
I agree about the geos infighting, do you think 6 tapajos is too many for a 75? I'm told no but they can really take a toll on each others tails. I've only seen them actually brawl and lock mouths 2 or 3 times and with my current set up I made quite a few rock caves to hide under so things have been going really well lately and it seems like their temperaments have died down a bit since I did that but I thought I'd ask someone who actually keeps them.
Mmmm I think 6 is probably pushing it in a 75, but since you have them already I would just monitor them and keep an eye out for more aggression, especially if pairs start to form. I have 6 in my 125 (with 2 pairs and 2 males) and I've never been concerned about them killing each other, but they can be a bit rough on each other. I've accepted the fact that trailers will never fully form lol.
I had a feeling the 6 was pushing it, the larger ones are pretty big and still growing. My local fish store is fantastic and if I needed to rehome a couple I'm sure he could take them from me and find someone. He moves through quite a bit of stock, including different kinds of geo's which I have never seen anywhere else.
My other thought was I could use their old 55 gallon tank and if I can identify a pair, put them in there and try to get some breeding going on.
I think both plans would work. You could definitely keep a pair in a 55 with a group of dithers (although they will try and eat fry). I'm passively letting my two pairs spawn but neither pair have gotten eggs to hatch because they get pushed off their eggs by the Severum who eat them.
