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	Swegel tetra?
jenbabe256 Big Fish Posts: 316 Kudos: 312 Votes: 10 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	I saw some of these tetras labeled Swegel Tetras at the fish store a while away. They were very pretty and I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about them. I tried to google them and nothing came up so any information at all would be appreciated. Sorry I don't have a scientific name. TIA Jen
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
ACIDRAIN Moderator Posts: 3162 Kudos: 1381 Votes: 416 Registered: 14-Jan-2002	I think you have spelled it incorrectly. Try Swegle's tetra, or scientific name; Hyphessobrycon sweglesi. Also known as the red phantom tetra, get about 1 1/2 inches long and the care is like for most all other tetras. _____________________________________________________________ There is always a bigger fish...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
jenbabe256 Big Fish Posts: 316 Kudos: 312 Votes: 10 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	Thanks Acid, that's definitely the fish I was looking at!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
ACIDRAIN Moderator Posts: 3162 Kudos: 1381 Votes: 416 Registered: 14-Jan-2002	Glad to help _____________________________________________________________ There is always a bigger fish...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
BruceMoomaw Mega Fish Posts: 977 Kudos: 490 Votes: 0 Registered: 31-Dec-2002	Easy to keep, and in my experience distinctly tougher (and more disease-resistant) than most of the books say. But they supposedly prefer water a bit cooler than your average tetra (about 72 deg F or 22 C, like Neons) -- although I've had no trouble keeping them at the usual 78 degree level. Two other notes: they're slightly shy, and some of them -- especially the wild ones -- have much more vivid color.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Tanya81 Fish Addict Posts: 633 Kudos: 419 Votes: 37 Registered: 27-Jun-2003	I have to agree. I myself own 5 of them and they are fun to watch. I have them in my 55 community tank, and even with some power packed color food, the red is a really neat color! They do like to quarrel amongst themselves, but nothing bad comes of it. Enjoy your purchase! 72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up 75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
BruceMoomaw Mega Fish Posts: 977 Kudos: 490 Votes: 0 Registered: 31-Dec-2002	I haven't even noticed any quarrelling -- in fact, they and Glowlights are the only Tetras I've seen so far that seem more timid than the average. (To anyone who would love to keep Serpaes if only they didn't act quite so much like Piranhas, the Red Phantom is a definite godsend.)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
jenbabe256 Big Fish Posts: 316 Kudos: 312 Votes: 10 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	So are they so timid that I will never see them or are they visible in the tank? I don't want a fish that will hide all day but I don't mind them being slow moving. My tank is 55 gallon with a whole lot of plants and driftwood. I was thinking about adding 3 or 4 angels. TIA Jen
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Tanya81 Fish Addict Posts: 633 Kudos: 419 Votes: 37 Registered: 27-Jun-2003	Mine do not hide all day long.. in fact they romp around with the lemon tetras and the black phantom tetras i have in there. i also have 2 full grown angel fish. 4 angels might be a lot if you are doing a community tank... 72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up 75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
jenbabe256 Big Fish Posts: 316 Kudos: 312 Votes: 10 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	Alrighty, then I will go with a larger school of phantoms and only 2 angels, I kind of thought that 4 seemed like a lot, especially considering how big they get. Now I only need to decide on another school of tetras and I'll be all set Thanks for all the help! Jen
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
jenbabe256 Big Fish Posts: 316 Kudos: 312 Votes: 10 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	Oh wait, one more question, Where do these guys tend to hang out in the tank? Middle or top area? I kind of wanted a tetra that didn't stay towards the bottom all the time. Sorry for all the questions, but I want to make sure I get the right fish for my tank! TIA Jen
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
BruceMoomaw Mega Fish Posts: 977 Kudos: 490 Votes: 0 Registered: 31-Dec-2002	Well, first, they're not wildly timid -- it's just that if you get fewer than 4 of them, they have a certain tendency to hide behind plants for the first few weeks. (Otherwise, they're perfectly willing to expose themselves.) Second, they do tend to hang near the bottom. Now, if you want tetras that prefer the top water, the two best I can think of from my own experience are Glass Bloodfins (very definite top-level fish) and Blue Emperors. Or, if you want to go outside the tetra group, Harlequin and Hengeli Rasboras also do it.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38
Calilasseia Ultimate Fish Guru Panda Funster Posts: 5496 Kudos: 2828 Votes: 731 Registered: 10-Feb-2003	Ah, Red Phantoms. Used to be known as Megalamphodus sweglesi until the taxonomists decided to ring the changes for the umpteenth time. Nice, hardy schooling Characin, makes a good foil against Lemons and the related Black Phantoms. Needs a mix of plant thickets plus swimming space like most of the shoaling Characins, and appreciates a helping of live food now and again to condition adults for breeding. Which they'll do quite happily if you're generous with the TLC. Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:38


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