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Can anyone tell a bit about Cochu's blue tetra? I saw them recently at the lfs and their colours looked much better then the cardinals and neons. There were only 5 left so I left them. Are they e to sickness like neons and do they interact differently to neons/ cardinals?
Thanks.

heres some info

http://fishinthe.net/html/fishguide/fishguide_fish.php?FC=138&nl=19&nt=3

Unfortunately, they are among the most delicate of tetras -- they absolutely demand clean water, and even then you're likely to lose many or most of them. (They also seem to be one of the most vulnerable tetras to Neon Tetra Disease, along with Glowlights.) On top of that, they're mildly antisocial -- they not only refuse to school, but have a strong tendency to chase other fish around the tank, although they never seem to actually bite them.

On the plus side, they are certainly dazzlingly beautiful. But be prepared for trouble.

Yes, very delicate indeed. Just like rummy nose. if the water is not just right you get no color out of them. I have never known them to be aggressive towards fish larger than them though. Of coarse I could never keep them alive.

I kept 8 for several years with no problems at all. I even have high nitrates, but 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites.

They may nip long flowy fins, but are pretty safe for quick fish, and any fish without extravagant fins.

Hmm. This restores my suspicion that there may be some trace components in tap water in some parts of the country (and the world) to which some species of tropical fish, but not others, are peculiarly sensitive. All I can say is that I almost immediately lost 5 out of the last 6 I tried to introduce to the library tank that I maintain -- and an independent test by people who know what they're doing showed no significant ammonia, nitrites or nitrates, and a mildly acidic pH of the sort Cochu's Blues are supposed to like. (Some Costello Tetras that I introduced simultaneously are still doing just fine.)

Actually, I've had much LESS trouble keeping Rummy Noses. The only time I've ever had serious trouble with those was when I tried to transfer three to a new tank using a small container in which they were crowded in with some other fish -- and the poor little devils released enough of their "danger alert" chemical to throw each other into fatal shock.

To be honest Bruce, there has been no trouble with the blues in my location either. Remember when I got that one Cochu's blue a few months back? I returned it to the store, and it survived there for another month before I sold the fish. A month afterwards, the same store got in a couple of shipments of this fish. I don't remember taking out more than two dead fish; in fact the biggest problem with them was that the blues in one batch (all one inch plus fish) kept nipping off each others' fins.
Your theory does sound pretty plausible to me.

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

Everyones water is definetly a bit different, in ways that can not easily be tested.

Also, the bloodline of fish can not easily be proven, unless you actually know and trust the breeder. Inbreeding is a huge problem with several species.

Cochu's Blue's are, hands down, the worst Tetras I have ever had the displeasure to own!!!!! ]:|

I bought a nice school of nine which very quickly dwindled itself down to 5, then 3 which survived for almost a year, now I have one lone fish that is grumpy and defensive of its little neck of the tank all the time!!!

All they ever did was chase and harass other fish in the tank. Big fish, little fish, it never mattered what it was- if it moved, they hated it! They beat up on each other pretty much nonstop, and I eventually seperated the last 3 into their own tanks so they would stop killing each other on me.

Sure, I bought them because they were so beautiful in the store and on the net. I have learned my lesson though, and would never own them again.

L.

Mine have never been THAT ill-mannered -- you may have had them in a too-small tank. Still, a lot of them do tend to chase other fish (and each other) around without actually biting them.

The one survivor of my latest batch seems quite well-mannered, but I wouldn't take any bets on his long-term life expectancy. It's becoming depressingly clear that -- like, say, Rams -- these are fish for specialists.

I have never had any problems with their aggression, as long as you keep them in a school and don't keep them with long-finned fish.

I saw them chase each other a bit, they never even gave a second glance to any of the other fish. Their behavior was actually quite funny when they'd swim around in tight little circles chasing each other.

I have never had any problems regarding their hardiness either... They seem just as hardy as any other tetra in the store.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.