Vampire Characin

[penguinpimp1990]

how big do they get in captivity? I heard they top at 3 feet in the wild but not sure about captive ones..... and are there any fish similar to this species in apperance or anything traits?

 

[conaquavict]

how big do they get in captivity? I heard they top at 3 feet in the wild but not sure about captive ones..... and are there any fish similar to this species in apperance or anything traits?

Here's a couple of links i found on them
and i think you'll agree that they are not
really suitable for the home aquarium,
awesome looking fish though.

http/www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Oddball ... 0Tetra.htm



http/images.google.com/images?q=payara&h...G=Search+Images

 

[CFC]

No one has managed to keep one alive much past around 12 inches in a home aquarium, for reasons unknown otherwise healthy fish just give up living and fade away over a matter of weeks once they are over 8 inches or so. Those who have been more successfull have had tanks measured in the thousands of gallons moving massive volumes of water through powerheads to recreate the vamire tetras natural adult biotope of rapids, something that isnt acheiveable in normal sized tanks.

There are a few similar looking Characins which are more suitable for average sized home aquariums but arent often traded and are quite difficult to keep, Raphiadon is the one that springs to mind but there are a few others also.