Congo tetras?

[jschall]

I tried three 1.5" congo tetras in my bichir tank, and my 5.5" delhezi immediately started stalking them. He was unsuccessful for the rest of the day.
So after lights out, I went to check on them and turned on the light. While I was watching, the 4" senegal grabbed a tetra and started shaking it like a dog. Not wanting to lose a $5 tetra, I whacked the side of the tank next to the action with my hand and the sen let go and swam away. Moved all three tetras to a separate tank and I'm not sure if that tetra is going to make it.

Anyway, I was under the impression that congo tetras got big enough that they wouldn't get eaten, but if a 1.5" tetra gets killed by a 4" sen, then won't a full size, 4" tetra get killed by a full size, 12" bichir? I can grow out the tetras in a separate tank before moving them in, but not if they'll get eaten anyway.

Regardless, the hunting behaviour of the bichirs is interesting. I'll have to get some feeder guppies for them.

 

[Lupin]

It is likely the bichirs will attempt to eat the full grown ones. Best not mix them if you don't want to risk losing your prized fish especially as they cost you a bit.

 

[benzjamin13]

Congo Tetras would only be temporary. They grow to 4" and while the smallest would probably be an Albino Sen (which usually round out at 8"), it would still be risky.

 

[Polyptasaurus]

they are beautiful fish and get a pretty good size, too big for the polys to eat too. So dont worry, just pick up some bigger ones and the delz wont eat em

 

[Cohazard]

If you buy 20 congos, about half will get eaten, then the rest will likely be left alone because of optimal foraging strategy. They spend more energy chasing down a congo tetra, than just waiting for you to throw in their normal prepared food, so they'll give up on the tetras and get used to the 'aroma' of fresh fish as a meal

I have observed this with adding festivums into my tank.

The congicus ate half the group I put in, but now the last 5 festivums left (one is very small) are left alone, and swim all over the tank and close to the bichirs too.

 

[jschall]

If you buy 20 congos, about half will get eaten, then the rest will likely be left alone because of optimal foraging strategy. They spend more energy chasing down a congo tetra, than just waiting for you to throw in their normal prepared food, so they'll give up on the tetras and get used to the 'aroma' of fresh fish as a meal

I have observed this with adding festivums into my tank.

The congicus ate half the group I put in, but now the last 5 festivums left (one is very small) are left alone, and swim all over the tank and close to the bichirs too.

I'm not going to spend $100 on congo tetras. They're $5 each at the only place I can get them locally.

 

[Cohazard]

I'm not going to spend $100 on congo tetras. They're $5 each at the only place I can get them locally.

It was a joke lol (but true)

 

[dragogreen]

its weird, i think feeding the bichir more would help, my senegal stalks my bloodfin tetras he been in there for a two month and my bichir is about 5 inches from 3 inch. So far no lost tetras but they're were only a buck a piece at petco. I guess it depends on the temperment of the bichir. My Bichir used to get beat on by my blackskirt tetra until it showed who is boss. So far no casualties but a growing bichir.

PS: My tetras are about 1.5-2 inches