Tank mates for Tetra schoal

[Sugarman]

HI all,

a quick question, I'm planning on putting a small schoal of Neon Tetras in my 40 litre starter tank.

Any suggestions as to some tank mates, preferably colorful and lively.

 

[The-Wolf]

how are you going to cycle the tank?

 

[Sugarman]

I'm going to spend a week getting my temperatures right before using the appropriate amount of Hagen Cycle about an hour before I introduce 4 or 5 Neons.
I'll spend the next few weeks monitoring nitrite levels and introducing more neons a couple at a time to mature the tank slowly. Once I'm happy that everything is fine in that respect then I'll consider adding another species.

 

[The-Wolf]

adding hagen cycle will not cycle a tank in 1 hour.
I suggest that you read about the nitrogen cycle before buying you fish.
neon tetras are extreamly sensative to water conditions and will die at the slighest trace of ammonia.

research, research and research more before you kill innocent fish.

 

[Sugarman]

Ouch that smarts lol!

I'm aware that Cycle will not cycle the tank in an hour, to my knowledge it adds the necessary bacterial cultures to the new tank to assist the cycling process.

Of the three lfs's in my area 2 of the 3 have recommended the introduction of tetras straight away, the other suggested starting the tank off with a couple of mollys which I should then bring back to the shop once my tank had started to mature, conflicting advice as you can see. This is why I joined the forum.

I've looked into fishless cycling and I'm having a great deal of trouble sourcing NH3. I can get powdered NH3, I can even get it in a 1 mole solution, however I can't get a conc solution.

Don't worry - the tank hasn't even got water in it yet, no fish will go in until I'm sure I've been given the correct advice.

 

[Weaver]

Neons are not a hardy fish at all and the cycle will most likeky kill them.If you want to cycle with fish then go for something like zebra/leopard danios which are tough fish--especially if you are able to return them to the lfs after the cycle.Mollys like brackish conditions and personally I would not be inclined to use them
Good luck and keep posting questions.Most people wont bite your head off and you can always post a snake to those who do

 

[The-Wolf]

this pinned topic about ammonia in the UK may help you find it
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=38840

although danios can handle the cycling process I advise against it as it puts them under a lot of stress. stress reduces a fishes immune system and they may die at a later stage because of this.
fishless cycle is the only humane way to start a new tank
(other than cloning an existing one)

 

[Sugarman]

Thanks for the link - I'll certainly have a good look for the product it shows.

It'll be interesting to see how widely available it is.


Anyhoo - back to my original question what would make suitable tank mates for a small shoal of neon tetras?

Rather than choose for looks first I'd prefer to have a few suitable suggestions and then take it from there.

Don't get me wrong, I realise I can trawl the net for a list of compatible fish, however I'd rather trust to people's experience.

 

[The-Wolf]

40 ltrs is not that much room to work with.
I myself have a betta alone in a 40ltr tank.

depending on the size of school of neons you are planning, you need to look for similar sized or preferbly small fish.
the following links should help you
Tetra size list
Danio, barbs & rasbora size list

 

[emma12321]

A group of 3 or 4 dwarf corydoras would be fine with the neons (eg pygmeus, habrosus, hastatus) and maybe a couple of otocinclus for cleanup or an apple snail and some shrimp.

Emma

 

[Fish_Mike]

In all honesty, you should keep Neons in a species tank. You can add the few corys and ottos like Emma suggested, but make sure to keep the temp and water stats at preferable conditions for Neons.