i know they're schooling fish and get about 3-4" long. what sized tank would i need for about 8-10 of them? what other fish can be kept with them?
congo tetras
- Thread starter RockabillyChick
- Start date
Adult males can actually reach 6". Some of mine are already 4" (like the one in my avatar. That picture is several months old though, he's bigger now).
I would not put that many in a 55g, maybe a 75g. It's hard for me to gauge without actually seeing a tank's size...but it'd have to be fairly large.
As for tankmates, lots can be kept with them. Pretty much anything that isn't aggressive or overly nippy. On the other hand, congos themselves get big and have big teeth (relatively speaking)...so they can be a little nippy. I won't put my mystery snail in with them. His antennae would probably last about 30 seconds. I've got mine in with hatchet fish, some other rainbows (madagascans) and some rasboras. All's well.
I would not put that many in a 55g, maybe a 75g. It's hard for me to gauge without actually seeing a tank's size...but it'd have to be fairly large.
As for tankmates, lots can be kept with them. Pretty much anything that isn't aggressive or overly nippy. On the other hand, congos themselves get big and have big teeth (relatively speaking)...so they can be a little nippy. I won't put my mystery snail in with them. His antennae would probably last about 30 seconds. I've got mine in with hatchet fish, some other rainbows (madagascans) and some rasboras. All's well.
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what would be a decent sized school for them? would like 7 be alright? with a larger school (15-20) of smaller fish, like rummynose tetra, or maybe whiteclouds? would all that be alright in a 75g? i can't get them now, but i really love the look of congo tetras and would like to have them someday when i have enough room for a tank that large.
I've got 17 of them in my 75 gallon ranging from 2.5" to 4.5' long. I also have an apple snail and no antenna problems 
I've also got a single fancy guppy that was donated to me and he's got all his fins. They seem to nip and quarrel only with each other.
I've also got a single fancy guppy that was donated to me and he's got all his fins. They seem to nip and quarrel only with each other.I purchased three congos about 4 months ago. two of them died right off. The other one did ok until about a week ago it started chasing two of my smaller tetras very aggressively until I dipped it out and gave it to my neighbor. I don't know what his problem was but he appeared to be keeping a certain space open to himself and wouldnt let other fish swim in it. He didn't bother my angels though which puzzled me. I called the pet store here and she said they can sometimes chase other fish. He didn't actually nip them, just darted at them constantly.
probably because they are schooling fish and he was alone. lone schooling fish can become agressive and kind of spastic. they only feel safe in numbers and get very defensive and freaked out when they're alone.