Red Tail Baracuda care

[Omrit]

I am struggling to find good information on this species.


My local fish store has had a small one in store for a while, and the owner has dropped the price to almost nothing trying to get rid of it which has me tempted. Acestrorhynchus falcatus is what the wholesaler called it, and that seems accurate.


Any general experience you have had with the fish would be appreciated. I do have 3 specific questions though:

1. The set-up I would like to put it in is a 75 gallon with a school of Filament barbs(mid sized robust barb, peaceful but very active), panda garras, and some hillstream loaches. I can move the loaches and panda garra if they would be at risk of being potential meals down the line.

2. Tank's PH is 7.7 , and I am not interested in attempting to lower it.


3. I read this fish likes a school. How essential is this? The store only has one, and none of my go-to online vendors have it in stock either so who knows when I could get more.

 

[tlindsey]

I am struggling to find good information on this species.


My local fish store has had a small one in store for a while, and the owner has dropped the price to almost nothing trying to get rid of it which has me tempted. Acestrorhynchus falcatus is what the wholesaler called it, and that seems accurate.


Any general experience you have had with the fish would be appreciated. I do have 3 specific questions though:

1. The set-up I would like to put it in is a 75 gallon with a school of Filament barbs(mid sized robust barb, peaceful but very active), panda garras, and some hillstream loaches. I can move the loaches and panda garra if they would be at risk of being potential meals down the line.

2. Tank's PH is 7.7 , and I am not interested in attempting to lower it.


3. I read this fish likes a school. How essential is this? The store only has one, and none of my go-to online vendors have it in stock either so who knows when I could get more.

Not much but a little info from a very experienced member. https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/geo-sveni-tankmates.746149/post-8411507

 

[Chet E.]

The author of my newest aquarium book chose for its cover photo a freshwater baracuda, A. microlepis. Of the falcatus, he relates an observation of four fish hunting neons cooperatively but contrasts this with the observation of seeing them as typically solitary in nature.
.
The baracudas are great fish. It's hard to say how well it will mix with the smaller fish long term. I've never tried.

 

[Omrit]

The author of my newest aquarium book chose for its cover photo a freshwater baracuda, A. microlepis. Of the falcatus, he relates an observation of four fish hunting neons cooperatively but contrasts this with the observation of seeing them as typically solitary in nature.
.
The baracudas are great fish. It's hard to say how well it will mix with the smaller fish long term. I've never tried.

Well the barbs can hardly be called smaller, they are about 4 inches long and very thick. They will also get a bit bigger.


It gives me some hope that the author says they are often solitary in the wild. I reckon I will try it if the barracuda is still available when I go back, if it goes well I will publish my own data down the line.