ruby tetra with bigger tetras? (axelrodia risei)

[hardlytangerine]

So, I've got around ten penguin tetras (blackline tetras - thayeria boehlkei) in my 110 liter tank. I am looking for some small tetras/rasboras to live in the tank aswell - as the penguin tetras stick to the upper levels and the rest of the tank looks very empty.

I've had my heart set on ember tetras, since they are about half the size of these penguins, and I prefer to have a big school with tiny fish than the other way around. I love small rasboras/tetras!

But I am not "married" to the idea of ember tetras. I could go for chili rasbora etc but I would prefer if the fish type was south american. Anything very small and colourful.

I am thinking about ruby tetra aswell (axelrodia riesei) as apparently they are even almost half the size of the ember tetras. However, knowing how the penguni tetras can be a bit "eager" I am afraid the rubys might look like food? (they tried to eat a cherry shrimp I had in there for a while)

Has anyone had ruby tetras (or similar smaller fish) with other bigger tetras? How did it go? I'm thinking since I might have a school of 15 or 20 they might not be attacked since they are a group. My penguins aren't aggressive in that way, but they are always "looking for a snack" :P

info: 110 liter tank, been going for about two years, heavily planted, ph 5.5 or 6 I think, currently only 10 penguin tetras an 3 otocinclus.

[steeler1]

I've kept Ember tertras with Columbian with no problems so I belive they would do okay with your penquins.

I've only kept one Ruby (not in the tank with the columbians) that the local dealer gave that showed up in her shipment with the Green Neons and it actully lived very well, hideing most of the time but coming out and schooling with the glowlights on occasion.

Speaking of Green neons they would be a good choice if you can find any at decent size say 3/4 in. I got mine at 1/2 and they did well never getting bullied by the full grown Black Phantoms and Rummy nose that were the biggist fish in the tank. They are now full grown at a little over an Inch.

[hardlytangerine]

Oh, hmm are the green neons the ones called Hemigrammus hyanuary? If so they seem to be a little bit bigger than what I'd prefer.

I'm afraid of overworking the filter so I would prefer many very small tetras. The ember tetras (or other similar in size, > 3 cm) are currently an almost perfect size for me.. but the ruby tetras are apparently only 1.5 cm -2 cm, so I'd kinda like to try ruby tetras since I can have more of them compared to ember tetras. So instead of say 15 ember tetras (+ 10 penguin tetras) I can have maybe 20, 25 ruby tetras. Hmm.

Interesting point though. Your green neons would have been very tiny when they were young and the rummy noses didn't bully/try to eat them? That's interesting really, and kinda re-assuring. I had rummy noses aswell sometime and they were also bonkers for things that looked like food (had to give away an albino cory cause the rummys wanted to try and pick at it's eyes!)

[Lady Hobbs]

A group of rummynose would also work and give you splashes of red. Cardinals or neons, too. But the rudy you suggested would also work.

[hardlytangerine]

Oh yeah rummys are gorgeous, but I would only want them in a bigger tank, and a laaarge school, haha :) I used to have about 6 of them but I felt they didnt get much elbow space. I'd love to see them school in a long big tank.

I had about 12 cardinals aswell and that actually went fine, but I decided I wanted a larger school of smaller tetras.The cardinals looked great with my blue led moonlight though haha :D hmmm I am seriously considering ruby tetras..

[steeler1]

Oh, hmm are the green neons the ones called Hemigrammus hyanuary? If so they seem to be a little bit bigger than what I'd prefer.

I'm afraid of overworking the filter so I would prefer many very small tetras. The ember tetras (or other similar in size, > 3 cm) are currently an almost perfect size for me.. but the ruby tetras are apparently only 1.5 cm -2 cm, so I'd kinda like to try ruby tetras since I can have more of them compared to ember tetras. So instead of say 15 ember tetras (+ 10 penguin tetras) I can have maybe 20, 25 ruby tetras. Hmm.

Interesting point though. Your green neons would have been very tiny when they were young and the rummy noses didn't bully/try to eat them? That's interesting really, and kinda re-assuring. I had rummy noses aswell sometime and they were also bonkers for things that looked like food (had to give away an albino cory cause the rummys wanted to try and pick at it's eyes!)

Green Neons Scientific name is Paracheirodon Simulans and they only get a little over and inch, males are a little smaller. I can't say enough good things about Rummy Noses in all the years I've kept them I've never seen them bother another fish regardless of size.

[hardlytangerine]

Ahh, green neons here are called blue neons apparently (norwegian)
yeah haha i looove rummy noses too, probably one of my fav tetras, and they school no matter how safe they feel!