question re: compatibility

I'm going to do a tank switcheroo, moving some fish into a different tank that are outgrowing, etc. Here is my question: will my comets eat neon tetras? My comets aren't that big yet (1-2 inches), but they are growing rapidly and I don't want to put them in with neon tetras if they're just going to end up being expensive fish food! What do you think?

 

From my experience comets are very friendly community fish....

 

I don't see them on your signature, so if you don't already have the neons, don't buy them for this tank! Neons are tropical and goldfish are not. Their needs are quite different, and since the comets will get so much bigger, it wouldn't surprise me if they ate the neons. Most fish will eat anything they can put in their mouths.

 

I have to agree with Gunnie.
Tom

 

Not sure if you mean comets as in the common goldfish or pond comets which are little larger, but I can speak from personal experience on this one. I have a pond comet named Ruby who when I bought her was about 2.5in(now about 4.5in), and trust me I had some neons that I was switching tanks and were in her tank for the duration of oh about 15mins and that was only because she didn't notice them for about 14mins.

 

Coldwater and freshwater and tropical fish DON'T mix!!! One will end up upside down

 

O.K., so tetras are out. Now, I DO have zebra danios...do you think they would be safe in the same tank as the comets? Or do you think the whole "small enough to fit into the mouth" thing would override normal behavior?

 

Danios can over time be acclimated to a colder tank, but with any long thin fish they are more likely to get eaten. Wedge shape fish like serpae tetras and hatchets have less chance of becoming lunch just because of their shape, but as far as cold water fish go...goldfish, white cloud minnows, and weather loaches(some opinions) are about it. The temperature difference is going to make one group of fish uncomfortable and possible shorten lifespan or cause disease from stress.