purple passion danio (danio roseus) or blue tetra (Boehlkea fredcochui)? - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

carbonlogix · 06-28-2009, 11:25 AM

I'm setting up my first freshwater tank and would like to choose a nice schooling fish. I've narrowed it down to purple passion danio (danio roseus) or blue tetra (Boehlkea fredcochui). Does anyone have experience with these fish? What criteria should I think about when trying to choose one over the other?

Thanks for any input!

unwritten law · 06-28-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbonlogix

I'm setting up my first freshwater tank and would like to choose a nice schooling fish. I've narrowed it down to purple passion danio (danio roseus) or blue tetra (Boehlkea fredcochui). Does anyone have experience with these fish? What criteria should I think about when trying to choose one over the other?

Thanks for any input!

I think its basically up to availability as these aren't the most common fish to find at a LFS...Both need to be in groups and both are active. The Danios should be in a 30 gallon but the tetras probably should too in order to be happy. The tetra's may nip a little but only at each other... the danios will get larger....really up to you. they aren't very different. The tetras work better in softer more acidic water so if your tap is more basic, maybe go with the danios...they are probably more hardier too.

blue_ram · 06-29-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbonlogix

I'm setting up my first freshwater tank and would like to choose a nice schooling fish. I've narrowed it down to purple passion danio (danio roseus) or blue tetra (Boehlkea fredcochui). Does anyone have experience with these fish? What criteria should I think about when trying to choose one over the other?

Thanks for any input!

Why not get 5 of both, the danios will hang towards the top of the tank and the tetras should be middle of the tank swimmers. Do not get the long fin danios if you do get both.

The danios are hyper-active and are great in drawing out some of the shy fish.

The danios will also survive a tank cycle and can recover/repair gill damage resulting from the tank cycle.

homebunnyj · 06-29-2009, 07:04 AM

What size tank it it? The last suggestion is far too much for a 10g beginner tank.

carbonlogix · 06-29-2009, 08:59 PM

It's a 30G. Blue_ram, I don't really want 5 of each, but rather one big school (about 12) of one or the other. Or maybe I will get 12 danios and 5 tetras? That seems like a bit much because I also want to put some bolivian rams and killifish in there.

unwritten law · 06-29-2009, 10:20 PM

I thought killifish usually go in species only tanks...might need to do more research on them but good luck finding them.... Bolivians and a school seems good though.

zephelia · 06-30-2009, 12:55 AM

I bought 5 blue tetras about 6 months ago. I put them in a 30 gal tank with some cherry barbs, kuhli loaches, otto cats and honey gourami. Within 12 hours, the "alpha tetra" had nipped and chased EVERY other fish into a small exposed part of the tank. His (or her) behaviour was aweful! I caught him and moved him into my neon tetra tank (10 gal. 7 neons), thinking he wouldn't pick on fish his same size and shape. Hey, maybe they'd school together. All the other fishes breathed a sigh of relief and came out of the terror zone. I went to sleep and woke up the next morning only to find that in BOTH tanks, there was one blue happily swimming about terrorizing everything else. These fish, in my opinion have issues, and maybe that's why they're not so common. The ones I got didn't get along with each other, much less any other species. These fish caused so much stress to all my other fish, I decided to make them turtle food. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone elses fish going through that same trauma if I took them back to my LFS. (I know, that sounds harsh, but my turtle has to eat too). Instead of goldfish, Flash (the turtle) had a gourmet meal.

homebunnyj · 06-30-2009, 07:00 AM

If you don't plan on more than five, I think it would be a mistake to get any of these nippy little buggers. The bigger the school, the more they'll nip each other instead of everybody else.

carbonlogix · 06-30-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unwritten law

I thought killifish usually go in species only tanks...might need to do more research on them but good luck finding them.... Bolivians and a school seems good though.

Thanks for the warning. I also just recently realized that they need to be in species-only tanks. Below is my final tank list - would be great if you could let me know if I have other compatibility issues. Thanks!!

2 bolivian rams
2 sparkling gouramis
2 Gertrude's Blue Eye Dwarf Rainbowfish
12 purple passion danios
3 dwarf cory cat
1 Catfish, Honeycomb (Tatia perugiae)
4 otoclinus cat

carbonlogix · 06-30-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zephelia

I bought 5 blue tetras about 6 months ago. I put them in a 30 gal tank with some cherry barbs, kuhli loaches, otto cats and honey gourami. Within 12 hours, the "alpha tetra" had nipped and chased EVERY other fish into a small exposed part of the tank. His (or her) behaviour was aweful! I caught him and moved him into my neon tetra tank (10 gal. 7 neons), thinking he wouldn't pick on fish his same size and shape. Hey, maybe they'd school together. All the other fishes breathed a sigh of relief and came out of the terror zone. I went to sleep and woke up the next morning only to find that in BOTH tanks, there was one blue happily swimming about terrorizing everything else. These fish, in my opinion have issues, and maybe that's why they're not so common. The ones I got didn't get along with each other, much less any other species. These fish caused so much stress to all my other fish, I decided to make them turtle food. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone elses fish going through that same trauma if I took them back to my LFS. (I know, that sounds harsh, but my turtle has to eat too). Instead of goldfish, Flash (the turtle) had a gourmet meal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebunnyj

If you don't plan on more than five, I think it would be a mistake to get any of these nippy little buggers. The bigger the school, the more they'll nip each other instead of everybody else.

Thanks for the advice!! I will choose the danios.

06-28-2009, 11:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
carbonlogix Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7	purple passion danio (danio roseus) or blue tetra (Boehlkea fredcochui)? I'm setting up my first freshwater tank and would like to choose a nice schooling fish. I've narrowed it down to purple passion danio (danio roseus) or blue tetra (Boehlkea fredcochui). Does anyone have experience with these fish? What criteria should I think about when trying to choose one over the other? Thanks for any input!

06-29-2009, 07:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
homebunnyj Super Fish Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,299	What size tank it it? The last suggestion is far too much for a 10g beginner tank. __________________ Judy Down to 3 tanks... from 7!! 29g: 3 goldfish (temporary)... thinking of convicts instead 55g: 12 glowlight tetras, 3 yoyo loaches (planning for another school of tetras, some more yoyo's, and maybe a pair of rams... any suggestions?) 2g: 3 guppies waiting for a bigger home and a few more buddies

06-29-2009, 10:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,243	I thought killifish usually go in species only tanks...might need to do more research on them but good luck finding them.... Bolivians and a school seems good though. __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, 1 yellow watchman goby, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 6 tiger barbs, 2 yoyo loaches, 2 keyhole cichlids, 1 cherry barb, 1 blue gourami 29 Gallon Planted 11 harlequin rasboras, 3 cories, 1 betta

06-30-2009, 07:00 AM	#8 (permalink)
homebunnyj Super Fish Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,299	If you don't plan on more than five, I think it would be a mistake to get any of these nippy little buggers. The bigger the school, the more they'll nip each other instead of everybody else. __________________ Judy Down to 3 tanks... from 7!! 29g: 3 goldfish (temporary)... thinking of convicts instead 55g: 12 glowlight tetras, 3 yoyo loaches (planning for another school of tetras, some more yoyo's, and maybe a pair of rams... any suggestions?) 2g: 3 guppies waiting for a bigger home and a few more buddies

06-29-2009, 08:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
carbonlogix Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7	It's a 30G. Blue_ram, I don't really want 5 of each, but rather one big school (about 12) of one or the other. Or maybe I will get 12 danios and 5 tetras? That seems like a bit much because I also want to put some bolivian rams and killifish in there.

06-30-2009, 12:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
zephelia Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 4	I bought 5 blue tetras about 6 months ago. I put them in a 30 gal tank with some cherry barbs, kuhli loaches, otto cats and honey gourami. Within 12 hours, the "alpha tetra" had nipped and chased EVERY other fish into a small exposed part of the tank. His (or her) behaviour was aweful! I caught him and moved him into my neon tetra tank (10 gal. 7 neons), thinking he wouldn't pick on fish his same size and shape. Hey, maybe they'd school together. All the other fishes breathed a sigh of relief and came out of the terror zone. I went to sleep and woke up the next morning only to find that in BOTH tanks, there was one blue happily swimming about terrorizing everything else. These fish, in my opinion have issues, and maybe that's why they're not so common. The ones I got didn't get along with each other, much less any other species. These fish caused so much stress to all my other fish, I decided to make them turtle food. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone elses fish going through that same trauma if I took them back to my LFS. (I know, that sounds harsh, but my turtle has to eat too). Instead of goldfish, Flash (the turtle) had a gourmet meal.