Big monster fish with tetras

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Essaf Victor

Essaf Victor

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 28, 2017
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Dubai
So I am toying around with the idea of adding neon tetras to my 600 gallon, the tank has a big wood scape and plants on the wood (Java fern, Anubius, moss and some stem plants)

the stocking is:
My +24 inch silver arowana
A pair of Azul peacock bass (male is 18-19 inches female is 16-17 inches)
A pair of emperor blue hooks at 9-10 inches

Now I understand that it depends on the fish’s personality and if it’s well fed and accept the fact that some will be eaten here and there

but in theory it should work as the tetras would hang around the scape and the big guys shouldn’t be really interested in them Specially in a relatively big tank

Also to note that they have never been fed life fish

now the question is to test the waters and see how the big guys react to the tetras how many do I have to buy to give the tetras a safe number to school and feel-safe around specially that the tank has relatively good flow, keyword to test so I don’t want to experiment with 100 tetras

also to note that they will go in 1-2 days before the big fish to settle down first

let’s hear what y’all think!

Thanks in advance.
 
Also thoughts on guppies point would be that they reproduce but the downside which I think is greater than their reproduction speed is that they are more of a top swimmer so will be easily picked up by the big fish and they kinda dumb if u know What I mean(little situational awareness from my experience) also that they don’t school and are slower swimmers
 
I think those tetras are going would be an expensive meal. Peacock bass are ambush predators and very adept at catching fast moving prey. I fish for them down here and they like a lure with a fast retrieve.
 
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Alright seems to be that they will get eaten mostly by the bass but the question is why does it seem to work in public aquariums
Big fish + big tank + small fish
 
I think when a certain fish gets to a certain size, like a jumbo RTC or gar, that it doesn't recognize tiny fish like neons to be prey unless it's starving. May not even be worth the energy trying to catch the fish. I suspect many fishes, including large cichla, may have different diets as large mature adults. I don't think your fish are quite that large however, and in the confines of a 600g neons would be both entertainment and snacks for your fish.

I've noticed when diving around monster grouper that many smaller fish like snapper will swarm right around the fish with seemingly no fear and the grouper seemingly no interest. I think they mostly eat sharks based on all the youtube videos you see lol.
 
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I know this is late, but adding on for future readers.

I have an adult Arowana (8 years old, 22 inches) in a planted tank with small tank mates for algae, snail and other pest control. Siamese algae eaters (SAE) Panda garras, Dwarf chain loaches.

I feed him pellets, but he still eats the tank mates if he gets an easy opportunity. Over 7 years, he has probably eaten maybe 50 or 60 or them. I replenish once in a while.

The tank mates, if they survive the first 48 hours, learn to keep a safe distance without panicking. They know when to run, the same way fishes seem to know when you are trying to net them or aiming other tank mates.

I've noticed with recent replenishment, that he doesn't bother with really small tank mates. Like 1 inch slivers of juveniles SAEs. He only starts to notice them when they get bigger. He doesn't seem to bother with the Dwarf Chain Loaches as they are about an inch long, maybe slightly bigger.
 
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