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I'm told the tetras are schooling fish and to keep a certain number so they are happier. I have several different type of tetras (neons, serpae, lemons, bleeding hearts, silver, head & tail lights) and generally have six or more of each --- except my BH because his friends have passed on and he has found a corner of the tank and refuses to play with the new BH I've purchased.

Anyway, are the various types of tetras e to schooling together? I've gotten mixed information on that but in my tank my tetras are prejudiced, they stick to their own kind. The danios are more tolerant, the long finned zebras play with the leopards who play with the common. Go figure!

usually different tetra's will not school, except with ones that have very similar apperance such as the neon's and cardinals

I have a large school of rummynose and cardinals and they do school together at times.

My Scapes

I have 6 BHTs, 8 Glowlights, and 6 Neons in my 72 gallon tank. The BHTs always school tightly, even when sleeping ! There is even one that seems to nip at the others when they get away from the group.

The Glowlights and Neons are tight, but even tighter with their exact same type (GL to GL and Neon to Neon). When danger approaches (usually my 4-year old jumping around outside the tank), they school as one large group.

These "Tetras", although the same family (characidae), do not recognize each other as their type unless they look very similar. Bleeding Hearts will sometimes school with Jewels, only because the look similar. Same with Glowlights, Neons, and Cardnials.

As for your lonely Bleeding Heart, get him some buddies! Get at LEAST two more BHTs or maybe one more BHT and two Jewels. He's not having a good time right now being the only one in the tank and being a very strong schooler.

oufannco

I "liberated" a used tank a few years ago. The stock was seriously messed up (one of this one of that one of this type deal). Among them was 1 long finned white skirt, and 4 diamond tetras. The lone white Skirt would try to school with the diamonds but more along the lines of the little brother tagging along after the older crew.
So now he's in another tank with 5 other white (well 4 whites and what looks like one dyed one ]:| ) the others were bought from two different stores (3@a time) but hang out together all the time....the one old loner is forever hideing out by himself.
Not exactly helpful, but as someone else has said, a story with fish in it .

^_^
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Is it safe to keep serpae's with those smaller tetras? I've never bothered keeping them, but I've heard they aren't too friendly on smaller fish.

I bought four new bleeding heart tetras but my older one won't have anything to do with them. She has staked out a section of the tank where she stays and seems to chase away the new BHT if they come around. Now I also have a silver tetra that is in somewhat similar. I've had him for several years, he’s quite a bit larger than the new ones I purchased but he plays and swims with his new “family.” Maybe my older BHT just needs to warm up to his new companions.

Last edited by LadyRae at 28-Jan-2005 21:59