Congo Tetra Biotope

[james41683]

I have a school of these that I would like to build around. the tank will probably be the 4ft 65 gallon they are in now. what other fish share the area that congo tetras are found in?

 

[TekFish]

African Butterflyfish? Just guessing. Look it up on SeriouslyFish.
 
Tek oot.
 
EDIT: Forget seriouslyfish it doesn't say.
 
I would say Synodontis Catfish species, Leopard Bushfish and Kribensis all come from the same area but don't quote me, African Fish aren't my forte, I do SA community, you got a question about those come to me lol.
 
Tek oot...again...

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

The classic "African oddball" setup includes Congo Tetra, the key is to give the non-predatory fish a good head start to ensure they are too big when the predators are added. Depending upon the tank size, fish include...
1/3+ African Butterfly Fish
1/3+ Leopard Bushfish
8+ Synodontis nigrivetris
African Brown Knifefish
 
In larger tanks (at least 5-foot), other options include...
3+ Reedfish
1/5+ Elephant Nose Fish spp. (very few keepers sucessfully keep these beautiful fish alive for long, I doubt I will ever go near them myself)
Small and less aggressive Bichir (but even a P. delhezi will be tempted by sub-adult S. nigriventris)

 

[TekFish]

Woohoo, I got some of them right 

 
Tek oot.

 

[james41683]

alright most of the fish listed I can get locally. anyone know of a larger single species that would work to?

 

[TooManyChoices]

Leopard Bush fish get pretty large. Definitely something that could be the centrepiece size wise. In my Congo themed tank I have yellow tail congo tetras, a butterfly fish and a jewel cichlid (I live in fear that the jewel might kill everything though).
 
This might give you an idea for plants and some other fish
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=5358
 
This is my tank:

 
Based loosely on the congo river. 

 

[james41683]

Leopard Bush fish get pretty large. Definitely something that could be the centrepiece size wise. In my Congo themed tank I have yellow tail congo tetras, a butterfly fish and a jewel cichlid (I live in fear that the jewel might kill everything though).
 
This might give you an idea for plants and some other fish
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=5358
 
This is my tank:

 
Based loosely on the congo river. 

Nice tank. thats kinda what I'm looking to go. lots of wood, a few river stones and some easy to grow plants. jewel cichlids crossed my mind for this tank, but I tried a single jewel in another community I had and he killed and nipped at most of the fish in there.

 

[TooManyChoices]

jewel cichlids crossed my mind for this tank, but I tried a single jewel in another community I had and he killed and nipped at most of the fish in there.

Oh god that's my greatest fear! D:

 

[james41683]

Are there any other bottom dwellers besides the brown knife? I'm getting the synodontis nigrivetris but they seem to be more interested in higher parts of the tank from what I've seen in stores. I would like something else, staying away from another syno.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

A single male Krib, perhaps?

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't know much about them, but would African blockheads be suitable?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I don't know much about them, but would African blockheads be suitable?

Mature Congo Tetras could live with Steatocranus Blockheads, but it would mean a compromise for both species, because the Blockheads come from the rapids around Malebo Pool whereas the tetras come from much more sedate waters (and their caudal fin does not have the clean fork shape). Setting up the tank somewhere inbetween would be mediocre at best.
 
A far better African tetra to put with Blockheads are Long-fin Tetras, Brycinus longipinnis, who do enjoy a good current.

 

[TooManyChoices]

I wish more African characins were easier to get hold of!

 

[Lateral Line]

>>>  easier to get hold of!
 
When I was in the Amazon basin in 1997, just about every river, stream, lake, pond, puddle seemed full of fish. A few years earlier when I was in Congo, (or Zaire as it was then known), I had the opposite impression. Many water courses seemed almost lifeless. In fact, in Africa, only the rift valley lakes seemed "full" of fish.

 

[TooManyChoices]

When I was in the Amazon basin in 1997, just about every river, stream, lake, pond, puddle seemed full of fish. A few years earlier when I was in Congo, (or Zaire as it was then known), I had the opposite impression. Many water courses seemed almost lifeless. In fact, in Africa, only the rift valley lakes seemed "full" of fish

In about 3-4 years of being in the hobby, the ONLY African characin I've see is the congo tetra. Only recently I've see yellow tail congos, never seen brycinus. Also, never seen any of the African barb species!

I guess this is as a result of being in places that are often difficult to collect from, and that they seem to be less common.

The amazon is next on my travel list! I'm studying marine and freshwater biology so it's a bit of a dream destination!