FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have a couple questions
1. I have a chance to get some cardinal tetras for .75 cents a piece and I want some for my 75g SA tank. The only thing is that my water is very hard. The ph is in the high 7's.
2. Can you feed NLS cichlid formula to tetras. The analysis is the same as the tropical fish formula. When I feed the rams and festivums it they seem to like it.

You can ask what pH they are living now & see if there's a big difference with yours. If there isn't much difference, buy them & acclimate them slowly & take your time.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

PH isn't a big deal, as long as you acclimate the tetras to it. I think the store I bought my cardinals from kept them at 6.8, and my tank is at 7.8. No big deal, they liked my clean water and didn't really freak out about the pH level.

Now for food. I'm guessing that the cichlid formula is mostly protein-based. That should be okay for cardinals, though it may be meatier than they'd prefer. It would be a good idea to mix in other foods for them, and even throw in some veggie-based stuff as well. You know, variety.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

as said...as long as u acclimate them properly...they will do just fine... probably..do a 1.5 hrs than usual 1 hr.

The obvious question here I have is this, cichlids? Cardinals and cichlids aren't the wisest choice unless we are talking shellies here. Snack sized morsels and voracious eaters aren't a match made in heaven except from the cichlids stand point, hehe.

The cichlids are bolivian rams and festivums. Just because some one says they have cichlids doesn't mean that its an oscar or some other large cichlid.

Bolivian rams, the almost cichlid, gotcha. Thats kinda like that pork commercial right? the other white meat, hehe.

Small Characin compatibility with Cichlids. Hmm. My thought initially would be that since quite a few of our favourite Characins share their home waters with Apistogramma and Nannacara Cichlids, which are all listed as 'Dwarf Cichlids', then these would be the species of choice provided that there was sufficient aquarium space.

Of course, if one isn't fussy about mixing fishes from different geographical regions, then Anomalochromis thomasi from West Africa is a much underrated 'unsung hero' among the smaller Cichlids that is peaceful enough to be regarded as a "Beginner's Cichlid", and will live quite happily alongside Cardinals, being itself a native of softer and slightly acidic waters in the wild.

Another good Cichlid that should be compatible with "typical" aquarium Characins, certainly in its juvenile sizes, is Laetacara curviceps, the Flag Cichlid, another species noted for being unusually peaceful by Cichlid standards.

Of course, if one moves away from 'typical' Charcins to the likes of Buenos Aires Tets and Astyanax species, then we're in the realms of tough bruisers than can be used as dither fish for Convicts and Dempseys. But that's a different story!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002