Looking For A Characin For A Biotope

[invader]

I have been planning out a biotope aquarium centered around pike cichlids. I was planning on obtaining a small group of Crenicichla notophthalmus and have them pair off (so I'll end up with only two) and also have a group of four Dianema urostriatum.

Since the pikes are really a fish that keeps to it's "cave," I wanted a characin or other type of species to be the midwater/top dwellers. They have to be big enough, so they won't become lunch for the pikes, but also small enough for a 30"x12"x22" tank. Oh, must also be from the Rio Negro, near Manaus region in Brazil.

I have been looking through fishbase, but I haven't found anything that is small enough, but large enough, except Hemiodus, but I've kept these before and I think they may be too active for such a short tank.

Any ideas are appreciated and thanks for your help!

 

[Cerbios]

If your going for a true biotope set up I know Pirahna and Cichlids never share the same waters in the wild, dont know if this is also true for most cof characin. That aside its going to be tough if you whant something unushual, all pirahna are out, most barracuda are too large and coudnt stand up against the agressive pikes. Most of the "Common" tetras are going to be your best bet for a small community tank as their mid swimmers, aside from exodons who nip till they got eaten. Mabey an Anostomus but they hang out on bottom and I've heard they can get aggresive as they get bigger probaly whouldnt bother a full grown pike though. Oh of Leprionus's get big and go go kind of phsyco past 6 inches. I love chacarins
Dont know if any of this helps a lot of people see normal tetras as too common and thus avoid them but most of the less common Chacarins just refuse to play nice.

 

[invader]

If your going for a true biotope set up I know Pirahna and Cichlids never share the same waters in the wild, dont know if this is also true for most cof characin. That aside its going to be tough if you whant something unushual, all pirahna are out, most barracuda are too large and coudnt stand up against the agressive pikes. Most of the "Common" tetras are going to be your best bet for a small community tank as their mid swimmers, aside from exodons who nip till they got eaten. Mabey an Anostomus but they hang out on bottom and I've heard they can get aggresive as they get bigger probaly whouldnt bother a full grown pike though. Oh of Leprionus's get big and go go kind of phsyco past 6 inches. I love chacarins
Dont know if any of this helps a lot of people see normal tetras as too common and thus avoid them but most of the less common Chacarins just refuse to play nice.

Well, being in Florida, pirahnas are out, but the tank is too small for them anyway.

I don't have a problem with standard tetras and whatnot, but most of the are either too small or are not from that specific region in the Amazon. I mean, I really like emporer tetras, but I don't think they from that region... now I have to check that. I would never put exodons in that tank. I have a group of 11 in a 55gl and they are little monsters (even though I love 'em!).

Anostomus are nice, but they are a bit nippy and I don't want something that won't gell well with the pikes.

Sorry if I sound picky!