Anyone have experience with Emperor Tetras?

T

tfish

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Feb 6, 2003
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I have always been interested in getting these fish but have had trouble finding any in my LFSs. Well just today, I found some beautiful Emperors! There were huge at ~1 1/2"! I would like to get them but wanted to know some more info about them first. Has anyone ever had experience with these fish before?

Here are my tank specs:
Planted 55 gallon
DIY CO2
pH: 6.8
KH: 5
GH: 11
temp: ~76
inhabitants: 5 congo tetras, 8 blue danios, 3 mollies, 2 guppies, and some ottos

thanks! :D
 
acouple of months ago i got five emporers. there are two varieties i know of...black and purple. the black are just a colour variation, and the purple a variation on the name. the males have a purple shine to the sides of their bodies, which makes sexing fairly easy. i keep mine in a tank much the same size as yours, and they are doing great. they have joined my growing shoal of tetras, well, it consists now of neons and emporers (and acouple of white clouds...), but its growing all the same.
 
I'd say your tank is fine, both size-wise and parameters wise.

They prefer softer, acidic water, but I have 12 in a 55 with about 30 cardinals and the water has an 8pH and 8KH. I've had them about 3 months. Emperors are carnivores, so live, frozen, freeze dried helps. I've been feeding them with Tetra's Delica line and I've been happy. They are big, peaceful, striking. I really like them.
 
Val -- Quick question -- You said that you have 12 Emperors. What is your male-female ratio? How are they getting along? I have 4 males and 2 females. I did not know how to sex them before, otherwise, I would have gotten a more even number. Anyway, the males are always displaying to one another and darting at one another. I'm worried about them. (How about you thom? Do your Emperors do this?) I am thinking about exchanging some of my males in for females. The females seem to be getting along just fine. Much more peaceful.

I love the fish either way. They are beautiful! What's your experience with your 12?

THANKS!! I've seen some info on them on a few websites, but nothing compares to talking to real people who actually have them! :D
 
I've been keeping a shoal, and they're nice fish BUT... Mine are now about 2 inches or so and I note the males have become very agressive to each other and have evne become territorial. ANyone else think think they're 'peaceful' like tiger barbs
 
tfish,

I have 6 males and 6 females. The males are more active, but they are not aggressive. I mean, they'll display to the others, both male and females, but I have a lot of activity in the tank just due to the numbers I've got. I also like the size difference between them and my cardinals, which further sets them apart.

Val
 
Wayne -- I have been noticing the same behavior.

Val -- thanks for the info!

Maybe my males aggressive/territorial behavior will lessen once the numbers between males-females is a bit more even (like val's). I will try exchanging some of my males for females to even the numbers and to see what happens.

THANKS TO ALL!
 
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