Central American Tetras

[G/k Arts and aqauticYT]

I just recently got a 55g and I'm going for a Central American theme. Currently in there is 1 Electric Blue Acara, 1 Firemouth Cichlid, and 4 Diamond tetras. If anyone could suggest so good Central American tetras or maybe some South American ones that would go good with those fish

 

[Sprinkle]

also do add at least two more diamonds, but for the theme i have no brightest idea.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

No tetra can live with an acara and acara are South American. Also those diamond tetra will die from the acara I would just get nothing else and move the tetras

 

[G/k Arts and aqauticYT]

No tetra can live with an acara and acara are South American. Also those diamond tetra will die from the acara I would just get nothing else and move the tetras

The Electric Blue Acara (Andinoacara pulcher) is a freshwater fish native to the slow flowing rivers and lakes of "Central" and South America. I have had this fish for over a year with these guys and it has shown zero signs of aggression

 

[Sprinkle]

The Electric Blue Acara (Andinoacara pulcher) is a freshwater fish native to the slow flowing rivers and lakes of "Central" and South America. I have had this fish for over a year with these guys and it has shown zero signs of aggression

ignore that kid. hes been attacking my friend for no reason.

No tetra can live with an acara and acara are South American. Also those diamond tetra will die from the acara I would just get nothing else and move the tetras

G/K knows his stuff. And those tetras will not die from the acara, and it also depends on what size a certain fish gets.

 

[Wyomingite]

I just recently got a 55g and I'm going for a Central American theme. Currently in there is 1 Electric Blue Acara, 1 Firemouth Cichlid, and 4 Diamond tetras. If anyone could suggest so good Central American tetras or maybe some South American ones that would go good with those fish

I've never seen any true Central American tetras in the hobby. Some of the CA tetras from the genus Astyanax can reach good sizes (4" plus), have reputations for being tough, and would hold up well with cichlids that couldn't eat them. I've actually been trying to find Astyanax fasciatus (I think this species pushes 6") for years, but I know they're illegal to import into some southern states due to the potential to become invasive. That and the fact they're not especially colorful severely limits demand, I'm sure.

The blind cave fish is actually a CA native, and gets 4" plus. They'd probably fit in and are sometimes available. In general though, most CA tetras that I've found on line just aren't as showy as their SA cousins and so probably don't get imported.

I've used buenos aires tetras as a stand in. They hit 3" and are pretty tough. I've used them as dither fish for African cichlids and they can take a bit of abuse when they get hit by an ornery cichlid.

WYite

 

[G/k Arts and aqauticYT]

Thanks both of you I will look for tetras in the Astyanax genus, but now that i think of it I would be fine with just CA schooling fish in general, tetras were just the first fish i thought of schooling fish

 

[FishAddict74]

No tetra can live with an acara and acara are South American. Also those diamond tetra will die from the acara I would just get nothing else and move the tetras

Please stop, that is ridiculously untrue

 

[FishAddict74]

Thanks both of you I will look for tetras in the Astyanax genus, but now that i think of it I would be fine with just CA schooling fish in general, tetras were just the first fish i thought of schooling fish

I would do as sprinkle suggested and add 2 more diamonds. Columbia is technically S. America but Columbian tetras would be awesome in that set up. They get large for a tetra, have nice colors and I don’t see the cichlids bothering them. The acara and fire mouth might scrap a little, but that’s not a certainty and I believe it could be managed through decor.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

My friend who has kept like every common species of acara and ridiculous amount of Central American chiclids and a few undescribed species says it is true and I’ve seen it those things get like 8” except for the inbreeding ridden elect blue acara which gets 6-8“ both have a mouth that’s like 3-4” when it’s feeding and no tetra I know of gets at least 3-4 inches tall