Non-violent Tetras and Blind Cave fish Question.

SimonWoodstock

SimonWoodstock

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Sep 14, 2003
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Is there a schooling tetra that will not nip fins? I am not a big tetra fan, but I would like to add a schooling fish to my 20gal. I may just stick with the danio idea even though they technically don't "school" like a tetra would and I have don't know of any tetras that wouldn't enjoy picking at my cat's fins.

I also noticed that the LFS stocks Blind Cave fish every now and then. I thought they were pretty interesting. Do they school? Do they nip fins? I would like any info. on them any of you happen to know since I have only read about a paragraph about them from a fish book.

I am just examining my options since I don't want to take the chance on adding a gourami or betta.

thanks
 
Are you sure that tetras are fin nippers? I've got 6 penguin tetras with 2 pictus catfish and 2 upsidedown catfish + a bunch of gouramis.

Most of the time the tetras are all over the place! They used to school when I first got them but now I think they sense that there are no dangers in the tank! Usually the penguin tetras chase each other around, never chasing another fish.
 
here

ummmm cardinal tetras, neons, harlequins tetras,lemon tetras - the nippy tetras are usually the serpae types IME
 
Nippiness level depends on the tet. There are lotsa tetras that don't nip. Most of the small-slim-bodied ones are well-mannered (ie: silvertips, neons, cardinals, rummy nose, head and tail light, blue tets, green fire, penguins, black neons, glowlights, bloodfins, gold, and many, many more). If those don't strike your fancy there's lemon tets, emperers, pristellas, diamond, flame, Congo, lamp eye, bleeding hearts....
 
im not sure about it. i just thought i had read some stuff talking about how they nipped fins. this is good to know, though. i will keep some of those you listed in mind when i go back to the lfs.

hmmm....maybe it was barbs i was thinking about...?

thanks
 
Oh there are some nippy ones all right (black skirts, red minors, and exodons spring into mind), but "tetra" is a pretty big catch-all, just like "pleco"
 
Blind Cave fish are a tetra species from northern Mexico/south Texas. I has some in a tank with a mix of similarly cool water fish. They were interesting to watch, but squigged me out some because they have no eyes and were a bit too much for me after a bit. They navigate by some kind of electrical field (apparently) so it was neat to see them cruising smack dab to a big rock and then making sharp turns to avoid it. They couldn't avoid the crayfish though, and they all became snacky food.
 
A good point was mentioned there that the cave tetras are more cool water than tropical. Make sure to get fish that fit your tank params. A good schooling fish that is peaceful is the White Cloud Minnow but they really should be kept in cooler water (70-72F for my tank).
 
I'm with TKOS. my white clouds are much more interesting than the cave tetras were. The hi fins and goldens, bought at different LFS and introduced to the tank on different occasions even school together. Much fun to watch.
 
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