Which Other Tetras Can I Keep With Buenos Aires?

I have 4 Buenos Aires Tetras that I bought very young couple of months back. Now they are each almost 2 inches and nipping at other tankmates. I've ordered for a customised 30 gallon tank to keep these BAs separately. I've read they can be aggressive with the smaller tetras like Neon or Serpae too. Which other larger tetras can I keep in this new tank along with the BAs that I can expect to hold peace? Any suggestions or input would be appreciated.

 

They shouldn't be at all aggressive with other tetras however they must be kept in groups of 6+ since they are schooling fish. They will be stressed and could be aggressive with other fish if kept in a small group. In a 30 gallon tank you could have at least 8.

 

What are the dimensions of the tank?

I'd add another 4-6 more, and you could likely add a school of 8-10 Serpae as well.

Do you want bottom feeders too?

 

They shouldn't be at all aggressive with other tetras however they must be kept in groups of 6+ since they are schooling fish. They will be stressed and could be aggressive with other fish if kept in a small group. In a 30 gallon tank you could have at least 8.

Thank you for the input and suggestions. I was also thinking 8 of them would be fine (that I can add 4 more).

 

What are the dimensions of the tank?

I'd add another 4-6 more, and you could likely add a school of 8-10 Serpae as well.

Do you want bottom feeders too?

It's a 30 inch by 15 inch by 15 inch tank.

This is encouraging, that means I can add 4 more confidently. Thank you for the suggestion.

I have a Corydora as a bottom feeder, would that be enough, a single one?

 

No, cories should be kept in a group of at least 6 individuals of a single species.

 

You might to 8 Buenos Aires tetra, 8 serpae tetra, and 6 cory cats.
Any schooling fish needs at least 6, 8 recommend, and past 8 they will only be more happy and active (and well behaved).

 

No, cories should be kept in a group of at least 6 individuals of a single species.

alright, I didn't know that about the Corys, so sorry for the single I have. Must do the needful. Thank you for that information.

 

You might to 8 Buenos Aires tetra, 8 serpae tetra, and 6 cory cats.
Any schooling fish needs at least 6, 8 recommend, and past 8 they will only be more happy and active (and well behaved).

Thank you for the input. But is it certain that the larger BA Tetras won't turn aggressive towards the Serpae in a 30 gallons tank? Also, if I introduce 8 BA Tetras in it, would there be space enough to have more fish like a shoal of Serpae Tetras?

 

I also have this idea that I might want to make it an exclusive BA Tetra biotope without adding any other species, probably a shoal of 8 BAs. Is that good enough to hold by itself? Or do I have to have bottom-feeders for the balance of the aquarium?

 

Thank you for the input. But is it certain that the larger BA Tetras won't turn aggressive towards the Serpae in a 30 gallons tank? Also, if I introduce 8 BA Tetras in it, would there be space enough to have more fish like a shoal of Serpae Tetras?

I've personally never kept the two together, but serpae are also notorious fin nippers. One of the most common tank mates for serpae are tiger barbs, and they are the similar size and temperament as BA tetra.
Also, the larger the school or shoal, the less aggression you'll see to their tankmates.

It depends on how many you want. I only suggested the serpaes because you showed interest in them earlier. You could do a species only tank of BA Tetras, or BA Tetras with cories if you'd prefer.

 

I've personally never kept the two together, but serpae are also notorious fin nippers. One of the most common tank mates for serpae are tiger barbs, and they are the similar size and temperament as BA tetra.
Also, the larger the school or shoal, the less aggression you'll see to their tankmates.

It depends on how many you want. I only suggested the serpaes because you showed interest in them earlier. You could do a species only tank of BA Tetras, or BA Tetras with cories if you'd prefer.

Thank you so much for taking the time to guide me here. Yes, Tiger Barbs was another suggestion made to me by someone, to go with BAs. Good to know Serpae are fin-nippers themselves, didn't know. Well, that settles my options here, thanks to this forum and a few of you.

 

Thank you for the input. But is it certain that the larger BA Tetras won't turn aggressive towards the Serpae in a 30 gallons tank? Also, if I introduce 8 BA Tetras in it, would there be space enough to have more fish like a shoal of Serpae Tetras?

Yes, there would be enough room for two schools, and the BA tetras shouldn't bother the Serpae.

I also have this idea that I might want to make it an exclusive BA Tetra biotope without adding any other species, probably a shoal of 8 BAs. Is that good enough to hold by itself? Or do I have to have bottom-feeders for the balance of the aquarium?

That would be fine, no need for bottom feeders. You can add more than 8 BAs if you did that, up to 10-12 or so would also be fine.

Thank you so much for taking the time to guide me here. Yes, Tiger Barbs was another suggestion made to me by someone, to go with BAs. Good to know Serpae are fin-nippers themselves, didn't know. Well, that settles my options here, thanks to this forum and a few of you.

Serpaes are usually only fin nippers to fish with longer fins, and then it's often only if the Serpaes are in too small of a school or with timid fish. A school of Serpae would be fine with BA tetras, and I would expect they would not nip or bother the BAs at all.

 

I've had the tank set up, got hold of some amazon sword plants too. I looked around the town over two days, yet I couldn't find a single outlet in town that stocked Buenos Aires Tetra, reason - doesn't sell and no one wants them! Such beautiful fish, so interesting, I just love their behavior, even if they occasionally injure or kill other tank mates So I'm stranded with only 4 of them (3 males and a female), would love to add 4 more. Hope they show up at some store soon in my town.

 

Also, I came across a shoal of tiger barbs at one place and could not resist them. Picked six of them and introduced them with the 4 BA tetras in my new 30 gallon tank. In the beginning, the Tiger Barbs were a bit aggressive to the BAs as the BAs seemed outnumbered 4 to 6. This went on for a couple of hours, but after that, over a day and a half, they have all settled down and even shoal together on occasions, both the Tigers and the BAs. And the Tiger Barbs seem more busy picking at each other now.