FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I'd like to hear opinions on the green fire tetra - Aphyocharax rathbuni (a.k.a. emerald tetra). My lfs just got a shipment of them in and I'm thinking about getting a school of 10-12 to go in a 29 gal. with two 0.75" keyholes and a group of chocolate gouramis. The tank is kept at 80F with a 6.5 pH.

They are a little dull at the store but the employees are assuring me that they will color up under the proper conditions.

Any thoughts?

First thought: the Chcoolate Gouramis need a species aquarium. They have very specialised requirements.

Second thought: Aphyocharax rathbuni colours up amazingly in the right setting. I emphasise, though, the right setting. Which usually means a planted and not a bare aquarium.

If you can find a separate home for the Chocolate Gouramis, which tend not t o like active companions, then these would be good fish to obtain. But I wouldn't put them in with the Chocolate Gouramis, as the CGs are very sensitive fish. A school of fast moving Characins buzzing around them all day might stress them out.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I've heard that green fire tetras actually prefer cooler water, like their close relatives the bloodfins. If this is the case, then 80 degrees might be a bit warm for them.

---

I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

I chose keyholes to go with my chocolates based on this website. It lists suitable tankmates at the bottom. I initally wanted to add a group of dwarf pencilfish but haven't been able to find them. Since the website also lists neon tetras I thought green fire tetras may also be acceptable. Plus, both choc. gouramis and tetras like soft water.

Is the information from this site incorrect?

Edited to add: The tank is planted with hornwort, combomba (sp?) and java fern.

Last edited by zoeandmaia at 25-Feb-2005 05:22

I have to confess I'm a bit surprised at one or two of the recommendations. Rummies are sauna lovers just like CGs, but I'd want to see a setup with the two together before setting up one myself. While some of the species recommendations I have no quarrel with (Otocinclus and the like), the website does say that CGs should not be kept with fast-moving, boisterous fishes. In any case, the temperature compatibility issue looks as if it rules out the combination you're thinking of, sadly. Because if they did go together, it would make quite a combination.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Those fire tetras really do get much nicer-looking as they age. They're pretty neat fish, we just got in a fairly large shipment. They seem to be somewhat hardy (meaning I didn't see any dead ones), and are doing all right in a discus tank with a temp in the eighties. If you like these guys, then grab them while you can. They aren't the easiest tetras to find.

---

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

I agree with Cass. Chocolate gouramis, IME, tend to do pretty poorly in community tanks. If they're fine right now, I wouldn't worry about them (keyholes are peaceful creatures, too), but the tets might be a bit quick to the food, and may spook the gourami. They're pretty fish, I'll give you that.

Okay, no green fire tetras in my chocolate gourami tank.

I have another tank that I keep at a pH of 6.8 and temperature at 77F. It is 29-gallons and currently holds 6 panda cories (I'll be adding 2 more), 5 kuhli loaches, and 2 lizard loaches. The tank is planted with java fern, mondo grasses, and java moss. Would this be a better home for a small school of green fire tetras?

I have no clue what lizard loaches are but it sounds great. Bear in mind mondo grass may eventually rot away on you-it's actually a terrarium plant.

This is a lizard loach. A fascinating little species.

Thanks for the advice about the mondo grass. I've had to replace it a couple of times but figured it was because of my low lighting. I like the look of tall grasses and so far haven't found anything that is locally available and works with low lighting.

I'm excited that I found an acceptable tank to keep green fire tetras in. I'll pick them up tomorrow

Those lizard loaches a really cute.

Your 29 gallon sounds like a good tank for the tetras. At work we have some in a planted display tank, and they look amazing.

---

I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Just to clarify, those weren't photos of my lizard loaches, but mine look exactly like that.

Somewhat off topic, but ... WOW! Those Lizard Loaches are something else!

* Wants *

They are amazing ... and you say you're keeping these guys?

Do a writeup on their habits and your success story with them ASAP, you'll acquire a big audience! Don't worry if you're a bit nervous about writing an article, everyone is the first time round, and if you mail me, I can give you some hints & tips. Plus, take a look at the various articles I've written on subjects such as Pandas & Otocinclus, so you get a 'feel' for the kind of approach that works well on this Board - at least, it's always worked well for me thus far


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I bought three lizard loaches from a lfs about two weeks ago. They were mislabeled as lizard cats. I lost one within a couple of days , but the remaining two seem to be doing well. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a couple more. If it is truly a loach I'm guessing that it enjoys the company of its own species. I called the owner of the lfs this weekend and he hasn't been able to aquire anymore.

Since I've only had them a short time I don't even begin to have enough information to think about writing an article. I am pretty psyched about them though. They're quite cute and have a very unique body form (somewhat like hillstream loaches). They seem to be rare. I've only been able to find two references (in English) on the Internet (the one I linked to above and at fishbase.com). I sent an email to the guy that wrote the short piece about them at loaches.com but he hasn't responded.

I'll keep notes on my observations and try to put something together about them.

green fires do best in the mid 70s as far as temps go really neat fish as the male turns black when ready to breed the green really shows up under good lighting a hardy fish that can b kept in groups of 2-3 rite up to 50-60 they dont eat theyre fry either n r easy to breed there great lil fish
as far as the lizard loaches i jsut saw bout 90 of them this weekend at big als in hamilton they were 4.99 i think