Hey all, before I begin I want to say I know there are many threads on this question already but they all have the same recommendation - silver dollars. These definitely are good candidates but my setup will have certain rhizome plants so I would rather not do a school of them. Im creating a biotope tank for my wild Astronotus that will have a few certain plants, so I'm looking for a South American schooling fish that won't get eaten by the Os but will not devour on plants. I know I'm asking for a lot in this fish haha, but if you guys have any recommendations of fish that could possibly pass this criteria I would love to know!
Astronotus dither fish
- Thread starter Robert1325
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I don't have any names for you, but a large, deep bodied tetra species should work well. Perhaps headstanders would also work, I am not too clued in on them. Best of luck with your setup!
If you can find them Triportheus hatchetfishes get surprisingly large and are more than fast enough to avoid a cranky Astronotus. Ive also had succes with Chalceus sp.
Like said above deep bodied tetras that are full grown or close shouldn't become lunch but may still get picked on. Columbian and Buenos Aires come to mind as something that may work. Depending on the Oscars personality they could still be killed though.
Mine would pick fights with most of the other fish in the tank including each other. All those fish were roughly the same size.
Mine would pick fights with most of the other fish in the tank including each other. All those fish were roughly the same size.
Since you are going biotope, I'm going with SA fish....Chalceus for top water fish is a good choice. Tetra wise you would need fast, inexpensive and non herbivore so, I'd think Black Skirts, BA tetras, maybe Colombian tetras,. Serpaes are a little small IMHO, but they are cheap and colorful if they get picked off. You need rounder bodies not torpedo shaped bodies unless they are large and fast.
The other random factor is your Oscar...some are lazy hunters and don't really try to eat tank mates and others are vacuums with fins.
Be careful with headstanders, leporinus, etc. not only are some species aggressive, but they will eat almost anything. My group of L. granti ate the rhizomes of an old java fern I had in the tank.
The other random factor is your Oscar...some are lazy hunters and don't really try to eat tank mates and others are vacuums with fins.
Be careful with headstanders, leporinus, etc. not only are some species aggressive, but they will eat almost anything. My group of L. granti ate the rhizomes of an old java fern I had in the tank.
Tetragonopterus argenteus. They are high bodied and don't eat plants. And they show nice shoaling behaviour.
Not my video:
Not my video:
