Has anybody kept Chalceus macrolepidotus before.

[Honda12]

Has anybody kept Chalceus macrolepidotus (Pink tailed chalceus) before. I was wondering How many I could keep in a 300gl rubber maid tub and if they would get along with rays.

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Also does anybody have experience with them and if so could you tell me about it. How agressive are they, what you feed them, ect...

 

[hewhorunswithscissors]

not aggressive. Kind of passive (but predatory on small fish) Do well in a group of 6 or more. Should get 12" absolute max... typically, even in very large tanks, more likely to max out 10". Will eat pellets and just about anything else. Not real active, but can be a little jumpy / jittery sometimes. Need a covered tank.

THere is another Chalceus CHALCEUS ERYTHRURUS which IMO is a nicer looking fish, with yellow fins, deep red tail, a little thicker and heavier and tougher You might consider that.

 

[RobD23]

They are the mosst skiddish fish i have ever kept

 

[fishnthings]

look really nice in person though... lfs has 4"s for 24.99

 

[Honda12]

Are they pretty peaceful to other tankmates? I would like to put some in with my rays for surface dwellers.

 

[vanimate]

They pretty much stay towards the top and dont bother anyone. I tried keeping two together, but that didnt work. Like somone above suggested keep 6+ or just keep one.
They will eay anything, pellets, flake, krill, shrimp. They are a little skittish but are really nice looking fish.

 

[michael]

Never seen them or I just may have overlooked them. No experience, sorry.

 

[Honda12]

I will probably give them a try. I am going to get like 8 or so.

 

[guppy]

Are they pretty peaceful to other tankmates? I would like to put some in with my rays for surface dwellers.

They will eat small fish and if your keep more than one you shold keep a few, a pair will fight, they are very skittish and the ones I had were at least as active as balas. They should do fine with rays and other bottom fish. Keep the tank covered as they are terrible about jumping out, I lost 2 that way. Keep at standard tropical temps in water near neutral pH. Easy to feed as they will take almost anything. Nice dither for a large tank, they generaly don't bother other large fish.

 

[Honda12]

Thanks guppy. Is 8 a good number.