Anybody Keep Congo Tetra's.

[CFC]

Congo tetras are one of my favourite tetras and one that i kept and bred for years and will do again one day when i have a suitable sized tank that doesnt have any large predators in it.

To be honest a 30g tank is a little too small for congo tetras, males reach about 4" when full grown and are deep bodied fish, they are also very active so i wouldnt be happy keeping a group of adults in less than a 48x15x18" tank.

If you want to keep a mixed group then you should have at least 2 females to each male to prevent sexual harrassment, all male groups are ok but you will never get the true best from their colours as they show off their best when females are about, females are just as colourfull as males but lack the long white edged trailers to the dorsal and caudal fins which make the males so stunning. Keeping the tank where is gets some natural sunlight in the mornings really brings out their best and will induce spawning in well conditioned fish.

 

[molitor75]

I have three Congo Tetra's they appear quite hardy. My tank is 45g but i'm looking for a new tank in the next few months.

 

[WILDER]

Thanks cfc always wanted congo tetra's but if the tank to small thats ok, might get diamond tetra's instead.

 

[idlefingers]

Congo tetras are one of my favourite tetras and one that i kept and bred for years and will do again one day when i have a suitable sized tank that doesnt have any large predators in it.

To be honest a 30g tank is a little too small for congo tetras, males reach about 4" when full grown and are deep bodied fish, they are also very active so i wouldnt be happy keeping a group of adults in less than a 48x15x18" tank.

If you want to keep a mixed group then you should have at least 2 females to each male to prevent sexual harrassment, all male groups are ok but you will never get the true best from their colours as they show off their best when females are about, females are just as colourfull as males but lack the long white edged trailers to the dorsal and caudal fins which make the males so stunning. Keeping the tank where is gets some natural sunlight in the mornings really brings out their best and will induce spawning in well conditioned fish.

Well I'm kinda worried about my congos now.. I stupidly went on the recommendation of my lfs (have now learnt my lesson) and bought 6 for my 126ltr (33g i think) - 5 males / 1 female. They seem fine now but does this mean they're going to get aggressive later?

Sorry to take your thread a little off subject, Wilder.

 

[smithrc]

I agree with CFC on these... we had 5 - 3 male and 2 female - the harasment got so bad one of the females lost her top fin to being nipped by the males... and the males were always competing.

We moves them into the rio 240 and added 6 more juviniles (£3.50 each from out local dobbies) we got more females than males to balance things out and the harrasment has stopped.

We sexed our juviniles when buying, females tend to be a more yellow colour the males have a fine white line at the edge of their tail.

what physical size is the tank? length would be my main concideration and wouldnt go for anything smaller than 4ft. (our 4ft was 42 uk gal)

Just to show you an idea of size the males are about 4" TL (excluding tail)

 

[idlefingers]

damn. I think I'm gonna have to speak with my fish shop and see if they'll take them back (or perhaps someone here would be interested?). My tank's 80 x 45 x 35cm so i think it's going to get nasty by the sound of it. I don't want them to be stressed and hurt each other.

 

[WILDER]

Stop showing me congo tetra's.
2nd Choice then diamond tetra's better go and see if my tanks big enough.

 

[smithrc]

Stop showing me congo tetra's.
2nd Choice then diamond tetra's better go and see if my tanks big enough.

I just wanted to show off - I'm dead chuffed with that pic

 

[WILDER]

I just wanted to show off - I'm dead chuffed with that pic
It is a lovely pic, but i'm not a happy bunny I can't have any.

 

[Stephen_B]

Hi. My first post here. Can someone tell me whether this fish will school? I have 7 emperor tetras by themselves in a 55 gallon tank, only to find that they are not really a schooling species.

Stephen

 

[Lateral Line]

Schooling is a defensive strategy. Fish school up when they feel threatened. In a typical tank, there is no benefit in schooling, so the fish tend not to. If you have your tetras in a 24" crowded tank, they may hang out together from time to time, but are just as likely to do their own thing. Put the same fish into a 72" with a lot of wide open spaces, and they'll stick together like glue.

On topic, Congo's are my favourite tetras. I've kept the regular, and yellow species. They are active swimmers and are a large fish, I concur totally with CFC, a 30 is to small. Diamonds are a nice tetra as well.