Tetra trouble

[glolite]

These pretty fish are described in my aquarium book as "peaceful shoalers".
Are they heck!! They attack smaller tetras, each other and are taking chunks out of my guppy tails. Has anyone else kept these fish? If so, any ideas as to suitable tankmates? I'm thinking bigger fish obviously. Any help gratefully accepted.

 

[The-Wolf]

Firstly there are two species of fish that are sold
under the common name "penguin fish"

the most common one is Thayeria boehlkei Blackline penguinfish
this fish is quite nippy, but this can be reduced by keeping in shoals of 10+

the second and less often seen is Thayeria obliqua Penguinfish
this fish is very social and not a fin nipper at all, however it does get relativly large at 7.6cm so that needs to be taken into account for tank size.

It seems that even Banesh have mixed up the temperment of obliqua with that of boehlkei
HTH

 

[glolite]

Yes it is indeed boehlkei and I have a shoal of 4. Now this morning I just happened to see a 20g aquarium going cheap. Don't need the stand so I bought it along with a fluval 2 filter. Already have a spare heater so just need some lighting. Seeded filter with lovely gunky media from an established tank and already had some fine gravel. So, I reckon suitable for my 1 brichardi and the boehlkei tetras but get another 6. Any other suggestions welcome.

 

[glolite]

bump