VATF Q's

[BRYANT]

How compatible are tankmates with vatf? Does it have to be 2/3rd of the vatf's body or just big enough to not fit in the vatf's mouth? Do vatfs bully or just to smaller tankmates?

 

[BRYANT]

Also, what's the smallest datnoid as a tankmate to not be eaten/killed? I've seen mixes with other characins but I want input on vatf. I know the shape of datnoids are hard for fish to eat/swallow. Thanks

 

[Scorponok]

Right now I have 7" vatf with 3" thinbars. No problems. Vatf only bully among themselves and rarely bite other species but it does happen. I would be careful with widebars and indos as they might harass vatf constantly.

 

[mad ness]

have seen my VATFs swallow feeders half their length, but as you mentioned datoids would be harder to swallow but that wouldn't keep them from getting seriously injured. ATF's have slashed a couple barracudas 2/3's their size leading to thier deaths.

 

[BRYANT]

So as long as the vatf and tankmates don't fit in each other's mouth, they can coexist?

 

[mad ness]

even if the vatf doesn't eat the tank mate, it may slice them open, especially if that tank mate is of similar body shape/color/size. Have kept cichla pikes and arrows with vatf, with out issues. But same size barracudas get cut up bad.

Might be good idea to try with tankmates that dont share similar water space ie low,mid,high water or characteristics.

well tempered dats should be ok as long as the tank is big enough for either side to avoid one another

 

[BRYANT]

even if the vatf doesn't eat the tank mate, it may slice them open, especially if that tank mate is of similar body shape/color/size. Have kept cichla pikes and arrows with vatf, with out issues. But same size barracudas get cut up bad.

Might be good idea to try with tankmates that dont share similar water space ie low,mid,high water or characteristics.

well tempered dats should be ok as long as the tank is big enough for either side to avoid one another

So dats ranging from 5-9" should be fine with 10" vatfs? The vatfs are top dwellers and the dats are mid to bottom.

 

[channarox]

should be fine,yes.
ATF are not really aggressive to anything that doesnt look like them.

 

[river and reef]

I have had my VATF for a year now and he is 13" and he has only killed one tank mate. All his tankmates are about half his size

 

[VFrancisco]

Where you getting 10" VATFs from?? I want one!