Buenos Aires tetras

[Toiletcar]

Recently bought 8 and growing them out (hope they get at least 3”) so I can add them to my 150g. They share this tank w/ 3 Rio Otapa x. Helleri. I was a little worried they’d be too nippy for the swordtails but just the opposite happened. Even a tiny male sword is chasing the tetras around. Guess I shouldn’t be so surprised wild type livebarers chase, because they’ll chase smaller cichlids. But love these tetras and hoping they work out w/ 6” astyanax tetras. The swordtails did not fare well and even at 3”, they became food.

 

[Deadeye]

Looking good! One of my favorite tetras!
They look like mini piranhas, aren’t too aggressive, but don’t take crap from others either.

 

[FJB]

I love them!
I have never kept them, but have known them for years. I will have some soon.
Your scaping looks great and those Anubias (judging by their roots) are thriving!

 

[Milingu]

Nice tetras and in my experience way more mellow than Astyanax from Central America.
My Astyanax tamiahua killed all livebearers I tried. It only worked with tougher Goodeids. But I don't know how your south american Astyanax are compared to them.

 

[Rocksor]

I'm liking them. I once saw a huge shoal of 30+ buenos aires tetras, and man it was pretty neat how tight of a ball they schooled when moving within the aquarium. I'm hoping to do that one day with as large of a shoal. I haven't see the tight balls in even a group of 15 .

 

[Toiletcar]

Thanks guys!
My hope is they are too fast for the astyanax. These fish are old and much slower than they were 10-12 years ago when I bought them. They are bimculatus which are more SA than CA. They only go as far north as Panama and Costa Rica. Most are most likely collected from the Suriname river like a lot of SA cichlids. I would worry more if they were a. Mexicanus especially. Unfortunately aquariums don’t have the space to get away from predators so makes me nervous. But feel this 25g is too small long term. They might go in a 35g bowfront instead.
The plants are anubias (not sure which). Have them in all my tanks. They just keep growing. Want to plant the roots.

 

[Toiletcar]

One question though-how will they fare w/ a high PH and hard water? I know they are a pretty hardy fish and probably tolerate 7ph but what about closer to 8 long term?

 

[Deadeye]

One question though-how will they fare w/ a high PH and hard water? I know they are a pretty hardy fish and probably tolerate 7ph but what about closer to 8 long term?

I just read 5.5 to 8.5. Should be fine for them!

 

[Toiletcar]

I just read 5.5 to 8.5. Should be fine for them!

Thanks, probably due to rainy season and river flooding ph changes.

 

[Toiletcar]

This tank is the other bigger option. Right now it has maybe 12+ Rio Otapa swords and 4 c. Robertsoni that are growing out for the 150g. Basically need to be 2-3” to not be food. Other than the astyanax, this rostratus is the only fish big enough to eat anything small. I have 2-2.5” t. Pasionis in the 150g now.