Serpae Tetra's As That Last Addition?

[umlaut31]

Right, so I've got a 64l tank - with a bristlenose plec, 6 longfinned zebra danios, 3 mollies and 2 german blue rams and it's all going well. I want to add the final shoal on the weekend, and I think abit of colour might be nice - so can anyone suggest any tetras or barbs that would suit the tank, not get too big and be generally awesome? I was thinking about serpae tetras... does anyone think that would be okay?

Cheers

 

[xautomaticflowersx]

Barbs might end up nipping your long-finned danios and possibly even the mollies, because they are rather partial to a bit of fin. Especially since your tank isn't very large... probably not large enough given the fish you already have to add a big enough group of barbs to diffuse their aggressive nature (6 plus fish). And from what I can gather, german blue rams are best kept without any semi-aggressive species. So probably some tetra would be the better bet. In my opinion. However, there is also some conjecture about serpae tetra being fin-nippers unless kept in large groups. But it seems that the nipping is usually confined to their own species. Cardinals look gorgeous in a shoal, and don't get too big.

 

[Zekumi]

At the moment I've got a little Serpae who's an absolute headache (he cam alone with the tank). When I first added in my livebearers, he nipped everyone's tail for afew weeks, and when I added in my male betta, the nasty little thing totally destroyed his veiltail.
My boyfriend got upset when I mentioned wanting to return him to the pet store and called me heartless, so I'm stuck with him until said boyfriend buys a tank of his own ... >__>

Anyhow. That's my personal experience with them. Not particularly pretty, although a shoal of them might not take up that awful nipping (though I'd rather just get rid of the one I have instead of adding more).


Maybe some Rummynose or Lemon tetra instead?

 

[corycatz]

serpae tetras are kind of on the nippy side to be kept with long fine danios.You might want to try some of the less nippy tetras such as Columbine tetras,black neons, emperor. Our you could try cherry barbs

 

[alan3513]

Get some Red Phantom tetras, they are very similar to Serpae's but have a much better temperament. i have eight in my planted community tank, they have a beutiful shine to them, don't fin nip and mix well with my other tetras.

 

[Lateral Line]

Some good suggestions, I'd stay away from Serpae, they are decidedly nippy. Barbs are mostly harmless, it is unfortunate that the antics of a few species get a huge group of fish marked. If red is your colour, then a couple or trio of cherry barbs won't harm anyone.