Still trying to sort out a schooling/colony type fish for my 8ft tank. After some shuffling, I now have 5 x heterospila (2"), 1 x marbled fenestratus (4"), 1 x rainbow (2.5"), 5 x SAE (3"), and two remaining 1.5" maculipinnis after bloat wiped out the 11 I ordered last month. Really not inclined to order any more maculipinnis to go back to my original plan after that, kinda sore about it and not much interested in the genus anymore lol.
But I would still like a schooling fish to help fill out the 8ft of space - ideally permanently, but at least while the itty bitty juvenile cichlids are growing.
So I started looking at tetras and barbs that I can get shipped to me, to see if anything caught my eye. Not traditionally a huge fan of either group of fish, so most I find very unappealing. Couple barbs I don't mind but I know tetras are a more natural fit given their geographical origin, so trying to find something I like.
Not a lot it seems. Usual neons/cardinals, etc. But most I just find ugly. However, emperor tetras did catch my eye. I know they aren't exactly on point as far as geography goes, but they're close and water/dietary requirements align. And at 2" adult size, I'm thinking they'll be large enough to *mostly* be left alone by the cichlids, since none of them naturally are fish predators anyway. Thought I might pick up a large school of 30 emperor tetras to fill out some of the unused 8ft space. Can always move them to a different tank or two later down the line if needed. But wanted to get some outside input. Thoughts?
But I would still like a schooling fish to help fill out the 8ft of space - ideally permanently, but at least while the itty bitty juvenile cichlids are growing.
So I started looking at tetras and barbs that I can get shipped to me, to see if anything caught my eye. Not traditionally a huge fan of either group of fish, so most I find very unappealing. Couple barbs I don't mind but I know tetras are a more natural fit given their geographical origin, so trying to find something I like.
Not a lot it seems. Usual neons/cardinals, etc. But most I just find ugly. However, emperor tetras did catch my eye. I know they aren't exactly on point as far as geography goes, but they're close and water/dietary requirements align. And at 2" adult size, I'm thinking they'll be large enough to *mostly* be left alone by the cichlids, since none of them naturally are fish predators anyway. Thought I might pick up a large school of 30 emperor tetras to fill out some of the unused 8ft space. Can always move them to a different tank or two later down the line if needed. But wanted to get some outside input. Thoughts?
