I JUST got back from Petsmart with 4 Black Skirt Tetras, and I'm asking all that know, what I want and what I want to avoid. I'm putting them in my 46g, and going to feed them tetracolor tropical flakes. I also got a plant and a small rock formation (it looks more like a tree root).
New Black Skirt Tetras
- Thread starter flamer
- Start date
A good thing I all that know is that you could easily up their numbers to 8 or 10.. and hopefully you got a plant that doesn't need soil IE Java fern, mosses or hornwort. I bought a java fern 2 weeks ago and it hasn't died yet!
If you add several java ferns and hornwort they could easily absorb the extra wastes.
Black skirt tetras are really really hardy WAY hardier than any other tetra I have come across. Neon tetras are not hardy at all. You can't go wrong with them as long as you change the water without scrubbing and bleach... or keep them with predators. They eat like piggies and grow to 2.5 inches... and are really deep bodied.
Also they are pretty little fellows.
I want to see your stocking list to make a good estimate of your limits. IN MY ARROGENT OPINION the less species in a tank the better if they are gregarious. IE all characins, 99% of cyprinids, some syno, all cories, monos...
I say max 3 species of shoaling fish in a tank of 29 gallons and maybe 4 for 55... ANYWAYS the black skirt tetras will live alright in a group of 4 but they will be prettier with more. I dunno if they are as dependent on others as much as other tetras, I had 3 for a few years when I was a total nub. Why yes, I did scrub out the filter every water change! (12x per year)
If you add several java ferns and hornwort they could easily absorb the extra wastes.
Black skirt tetras are really really hardy WAY hardier than any other tetra I have come across. Neon tetras are not hardy at all. You can't go wrong with them as long as you change the water without scrubbing and bleach... or keep them with predators. They eat like piggies and grow to 2.5 inches... and are really deep bodied.
Also they are pretty little fellows.
I want to see your stocking list to make a good estimate of your limits. IN MY ARROGENT OPINION the less species in a tank the better if they are gregarious. IE all characins, 99% of cyprinids, some syno, all cories, monos...
I say max 3 species of shoaling fish in a tank of 29 gallons and maybe 4 for 55... ANYWAYS the black skirt tetras will live alright in a group of 4 but they will be prettier with more. I dunno if they are as dependent on others as much as other tetras, I had 3 for a few years when I was a total nub. Why yes, I did scrub out the filter every water change! (12x per year)
flamer;2688053; said:
Sometimes they can be a bit nippy. They are extremely hardy though (all lived through the last half of my fishy cycle when I was a noob...) Be careful as they are pretty aggressive eaters and more shy fish (german blue rams etc) may have trouble getting food.
I gave them about 8 flakes, maybe less, and it was gone in about 1 minute. so yeah, aggressive eaters, got that. eventually I want a pleco in there, but only when the algae starts up, or maybe a catfish.
Black Skirt Tetras are schooling fish, so I probably should get more. they seem to already be at home, probably 'cuase they went from a 10g to a 46g
Black Skirt Tetras are schooling fish, so I probably should get more. they seem to already be at home, probably 'cuase they went from a 10g to a 46g
Do not get a pleco... get an otto instead, Otto's get to 3 inches, common plecos get to 24 inches and will not eat much algae. Well anyways try to vary their diet with other foods such as frozen brine shrimp or bloodworms. Also, I would get rid of the flake you are using... It's crap... use omega one IMHO.
they seem to like it, but do they need meat or lettuce or something? I remember reading that fish need to have lettuce or something...
flamer;2691398; said:
Supplementing vegetables certainly won't hurt and your fish will appreciate it, especially if you get a shoal of Ottos or Corys. Perhaps look into getting some food that is rich in spirulina/algae.
are there and brands that I should get for that? but I think the food I have should be enough for them for awhile though.