Blind Cave Fish

[ECCO_]

I think these are tetras, if not please correct me....
I wanted to know theyre behaviore and what would be a good aquarium size for them?
Also, how do they feed, If theyre blind? And what would be good Tank mates?
THANKS-

 

[The-Wolf]

Blind Cave Tetras Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus are one of the more aggressive tetras and they will nip fins. They should be kept with aggressive larger tetras, such as the Buenos Aires Tetra Hemigrammus caudovittatus, the Colombian Tetra Hyphessobrycon columbianus, the Serpae Tetra Hyphessobrycon serpae and the Silver Tip Tetra Hasemania nana.
They are definitely not good companions for smaller tetras and guppies.

 

[Mad Duff]

Also, how do they feed, If theyre blind?

Surprisingly well considering the fact that they are blind, I only have one now and it is in one of my 4' Loach tanks. Like The Wolf said they are among the more aggressive Tetras, the one I have now is very placid and doesn't touch any of the Rasboras or Loaches that it shares its tank with but I do think that this one fish is the exception to the rule as far as behaviour is concerned.

 

[The-Wolf]

they mostly find their food via an enhanced sense of smell however they also use their lateral line to home in on other fish

 

[ECCO_]

Thanks, I saw them at a Wal*Mart and I thought on getting some, and some larger tetras....
Also, whats a good tank size?

 

[nmonks]

Blind cave tetras are great value oddballs. As others have said, they can be nippy. But beyond that, the other things to remember are [a] they like their water a little cooler than tropical tetras do (18-24C rather than 25-28C) and they like their water a bit hard and alkaline.

They look their best in a group, when you can see their uncanny abilty to swim about in a school most effectively. The best tanks for them have crushed slate substrate and few bits of dark rock for "ornamentation". Obviously, since they live in dark caves, they couldn't care less about plants. They don't care about lights, either, so using a low-power Grolux or something to create a mysterious lighting effect might be best. Spot-halogens also work very well for this as you can make regions of dark and light, but halogen lights explode if splashed with water, so use carefully. They mix perfectly with Synodontis, plecs, and other robust catfish.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[ECCO_]

Are they egg layers?
Also how can you tell the sex of the fish?

 

[Lateral Line]

Are they egg layers?

Yes.

Also how can you tell the sex of the fish?

Usual, females are deeper in the body and noticeably wider when viewed from above or in front. Also grow a little larger.

 

[ECCO_]

Thanks.....
Glad to know, This helps. Im getting some tetra's and I want to know about these....
If I have eany other questions, Ill post.

 

[dizzied]

I've heard from someone that they're also good at recognizing other fishes' territories, and won't wander into them.

They're probably fun to show off to your non-fishkeeping friends. "OMG, where are it's eyes?!"

 

[ECCO_]

Yeah, they are pretty exotic.

 

[ECCO_]

Whats a good tank size?
Also, you said larger tetras would go good with them, so would a congo tetra be fine with them?
THANKS-

 

[The-Wolf]

I'd so no as the congo tetra has extended finage
this would be just too appertising to the cave fish

 

[ECCO_]

Species Profile:

Common Name: Blind Cave Tetra Scientific Name: Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus
Origin: Mexico Restricted: No
Diet: Omnivore Max Size: 2 (inches)
Tank Recommendations: Compatibility:
Tank Size: 10 (gallons) * Community Safe: Yes*
Temp: 72 - 80 (Fahrenheit) * Venomous: No
pH: 7.0 - 8.0 * Difficulty: 2 (scale of 1-low to 10-high) *
* For MOST fish
General Info:
The blind cave tetra is one of the really unique fish found in the freshwater aquarium. As the name implies this fish has no eyes. It is believed that they actually use sound waves to navigate their way throughout the aquarium. Because their lives were spent in caves, their eyes were of no use to them and their body coloration went to almost an opaque coloration, showing an almost pink coloration only from the blood vessels beneath the skin. They will get along with many types of community fish such as tetras and guppies and are an incredibly hardy species. Blind Cave Tetras will accept flake, pellet and frozen food soon after being added to the aquarium.

This is what I found, from what I see, its nothing like what yall said.

 

[starrynightxxi]

that's not completely different from what people said. 72-80 is a big gap in temperature, and i'm sure they can be kept at any of those temperatures, but being from caves, even tropical waters in caves will be naturally cooler than water out of doors.

as for their community value, i'm going to agree with the people on this forum rather than whatever that website that you got that info on because I have seen what those fish can do. My fish guy got in a bunch of those traded in with several long-finned and large fish that were torn to shreds from the tetras' nipping.