Serpae Tetras

[biogirl52]

I have a school of serpae tetras in my 37 gallon. The school is a size of six. For the most part, they have kept to themselves on the whole. I just bought a baby veiled angelfish the other day - and of course I was extremely apprehensive about how the serpae tetras would do. So far, they have been curious - occasionally will follow her across the tank - but go back to their own business amongst each other. But do I trust them? I did witness one give her a little pinch. They can be easily moved to a 20 gallon I have.

Also I think I should say... shame on Petsmart... I bought this angelfish there and in the tank was TIGER BARBS. I have no idea why. The main tiger barb tank was several down the aisle. One of the angel's dorsal fin was completely gone. It's sick really. I'm thinking their good, experienced employees never stay long. I mean that's just one of those basic duh things. Should you stock overflow tigerbarbs in with the angels? The answer is no.

 

[jamorel]

Oh dear...sorry about the angel and no, I would not trust the Serpaes. I have them in both tanks - 26g and 36g, and if I get angels (I love, but wanted to know my fish keeping well before going there) I will have to reorganize the Serpaes I think. I also don't trust fish store employees. I took babies into a reputable LFS and watched as the manager lifted the bucket to dump into a tank of Angels. I stopped him...I said, "won't cichlids eat fry?" he paused, realized I wasnt completely stupid, and decided to release them in a planted tank. Yes they would eat them and what about quarantine and stuff in the water (potentially)

 

[onidrase]

They keep the blue dwarf gouramis at the petsmart I work at with serpae tetras, and the blue gouramis are always battered and torn apart from it. I'd say no go to keeping serpaes with an angelfish.

And yes, they have tiger barbs in the angelfish tank at the one I work at too. But I'm smart enough to keep a tank divider between them. Unfortunately, we have no choice in what tanks we can keep the fish in. If a district manager comes in and sees fish out of place, our store gets busted for it.

 

[Lateral Line]

I've always found Serpæ to be quite aggressive. Even in a good sized group, a little side swipe at a trailing fin seemed to be in order.