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Okay, for some wierd reason, most of the petstores around here carry very few species of tetras (Neons, Cardinals, Bleeding Hearts, and thats about it) Mabey its just the area Im in or something (They almost all specialize in african chilids) Anyway, I finnally found Black Phantoms at one store! Woo hoo! They also had black neons. I would love to get some to stick in my 46g (still stocking, see my other posts) but I was wondering if a few would be happy in one of my other tanks:

15g
2x Mollys (Will Move to another tank soon as the bettas are done with it)
3x Red/Orenge Wag Plattys (still rather small)
2x Zebra Danios (almost full grown, not the least bit nippy, and fine just the way they are)


46 g (nothing in it yet, it will be a few weeks before I can stock it) This is what Im contemplatng:

3x Koi Veil Angels
4x German Blue Rams
6x Panda Corys OR 3x Clown Loaches


Would either of these setups be good for Phantoms?




Inky

I think the phantoms would do well in the 46. I've never had any problems with angels and phantoms in the same tank.


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Cake or death?

How many could I add without overstocking it?

Inky

For the 46 I don't recommend getting 4 Blue Rams. I had 4 in a 55 and guess what? Dominant pair slaughtered the ramining 2. An overly aggressive fish when it comes to its own species IME. But maybe mine are just that...overly agressive psycho's.

Anyway... I think a school of 10 or so would be fine in the 46. And it won't overstock it.

I always thought rams were community fish. I may have to stick a chilid (need an id on it) in there. Mabey I should just go with a pair of rams.


3x Angels
1x Mystery Chilid
2x rams
10x Phantoms?


Are these all compatable?

Inky

You'd have to get a solid ID on the mystery cichlid to for us to tell you if it'd work or not. Other than that, it looks fine. Just watch out for the angels pairing off.

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Cake or death?

There may be a temperature problem combining the Black Phantoms with the Rams. Rams pretty much require water warmer than your usual tropical fish in order to fight off infections (about 84 deg F or 29 C), whereas I gather Black Phantoms prefer it just a couple of degrees F. cooler than the usual tropical (about 75 F or 24 C), although Red Phantoms prefer it a couple of degrees cooler still. (At any rate, I've read that both types of Phantom tetra, as well as Flame Tetras, are unwise tankmates for Discus because of the latter's demand for warmer water -- and Rams prefer about the same temperatures as Discus.)

ah. The cichilid may be a sun fish, but i still cant id it.

Inky

Tangential diversion - if you are looking for a Cichlid species that will be compatible with your proposed Black Phantoms, won't require excessive heat, and will be relatively peaceful to boot, two choices spring to mind if you can find them.

First is Laetacara curviceps, the Flag Cichlid. A native South American that will be very compatible with your Tetras from a water chamistry standpoint, and which will be peaceful to boot. An attractive species, deserves to be much more plentiful than it is because it has redeeming traits a-plenty (including relative ease of breeding), namely good hardiness, peaceful temperament (one of the most placid Cichlids you will ever find) and beautiful colours when breeding. The species also commends itself as an exemplary parent when tending eggs or fry.

Second is Anomalochromis thomasi, a BIG favourite of mine. Again, compatible water chemistry wise with your Black Phantoms because it's a West African riverine Cichlid that naturally hails from waters that are similar to Amazonian waters in many respects - soft and slightly acidic. Also possesses the same redeeming traits - peaceful, hardy, beautiful breeding colours (and quite a jewel outside of breeding too) and like the Flag Cichlid above, a veritable pacifist in comparison to Rams!

If you want your 46 gallon aquarium to be a relatively faithful biotope type affair, go with the Flag Cichlid. If you're not concerned about biotope accuracy and are willing to mix and match fishes from all over the place, then I'd go with the Thomasi.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I'll consider bolth choices, I first have to figure out what it is that I have.

Inky