Tetra's

[Angelfish]

I just got back from my LFS with new fish. I picked up a siamese algae eater (not sure if it is the real thing or not), a ghost cat fish and four of what they called "blood-red fin tetra". Ive been trying to look up research on that specific type of tetra only to find nothing! Does anyone know anything about this type of fish? Three of them are an inch long and the fourth slightly smaller so I dont think they are going to be eaten, unless they are pecked to death, do you think this could happen? So far my other fish have left them alone, I'm just worried about what might happen when the lights go out.
I had researched the ghost cat fish before buying him, and it mostly said they liked groups, only I got the last one ... so no group yet, think my guy will be okay on his own?
One last thing, Ive been in desperate search of terquoise rainbow fish, the guy at the LFS said that he had three in a tank, only they looked really pale and silvery, he said that they will only turn terquoise when they get bigger and older. Is this true or is he just trying to rid him self of the silver fish?
Thanks =)

 

[depthC]

Hey bloodfin tetras are awesome fish. They were my first fish ever. Well i doubt that they will get picked on, but that depends on what fish you have in your tank. So what fish other fish do you have in the tank and is it a community tank? They are real active in my tanks so i hope they are in yours too. They dont pick at other fish and only play with each other in my school of 7. So if they seem shy maybe add a few more. Also about terquiose rainbow fish, im sure the fish will lighten up when he is in your tank and settled in. Most fish dont look their best at a petstore unless they are taken care of real well as they would be in your aquarium. So i would get them and if they arnt what you wanted bring them back if possible. Good luck with your bloodfins and keep us updated on how they go. Im just interested because not many people have this fish in their tanks.

- depthC

 

[Angelfish]

Who did it?

Thanks DepthC, Id love to report that the bloodfins are doing well but I have strong reason to believe that the small one was eaten last night, as its no longer there. The thing is who did it? In my tank I have (see signature), the only fish that could even fit the bloodfin in its mouth (if it really tried, and this is pushing it) are the ID shark and the pictus cat. I firstly assumed the pictus, but it has one of those stomachs that leaves a buldge when it eats anything, there was no buldge, same with the ID shark and they both had big appetites this morning. So who could have eaten the bloodfin?

 

[depthC]

Well i guess its possible it got eaten, but dont be too sure yet. Get your hands wet and dink around. Maybe hes just hiding from another fish or is dead somewere in the tank.

- depthC

 

[colesea]

Bloodfin tetras are awsome! One of my favorite fish. Here are some little pointers on them from observations I've done myself on the school I have.

They like to be in schools, the bigger the better. They can grow fairly large, at least two to three inches. When fighting for dominance, their blood-color tipped fins get a very brillant red. The more dominate the fish, the redder its fins. If they are placed on a dark gravel, their bodies will turn black, so it is best to keep them on nutral or light color gravels so you get the lovely silver color. They'll eat a variety of fish flakes. They also like a fairly well planted (fake or live) tank to dart around in. Be careful, I've notice that my other fish that also have red fins (tiger barbs, rainbow shark) love to chase and nip at them.

I don't think anything ate your fish. To find the body you may have to take the tank apart. Sometimes bodies end up beneath decorations or stuck in the filter. It is best you remove the dead fish as soon as possible so you don't run the risk of passing disease via canabilism, or you cause ammonia spikes with the decomposition. Angels, pictus, and ID sharks may indeed eat smaller fish when they get larger, and the gourmais might be agressive and kill them out of territoriallity.
~~Colesea

 

[Angelfish]

Maybe your right, there are lots of hiding places in my tank (structures, plants ect) so I'll have a look for him. Thats interesting info you have on the redfins Colesea, it probably explains why the smaller out of the remaining three has duller fins. I went by my LFS today and they still have a few left, but I decided to hold off on them until I see how well the few I have survive.