Breeds Of Tetras Fish

Six items that revolutionised fishkeeping

This is a product that saved the lives of hundreds of fish in my own experience, and potentially may have spared tens – if not hundreds – of thousands of piscine lives from a painful death since its first introduction.

Doing exactly what it says on the label, Ammo-lock locks up ammonia. The ‘secret’ ingredient is hydromethane sulphinate, which quickly converts any free ammonia (NH3) into ammonium (NH4). Anyone who knows his or her way around the nitrogen cycle will be aware that this latter ammonia form is one that we don’t need to worry about – it’s pretty harmless to fish.

Agreed, Ammo-lock would eventually allow ammonium to revert back into ammonia over time and subject to water parameters, and sticking it into marine tanks with protein skimmers would often result in near comical spouts of foam spewing across the carpet, but for the entry level keeper who bought on a whim, and was distraught that their fish were gasping and near to death, Ammo-lock gave a second chance where before death was almost assured. I’m making a point of using inches here, and not centimetres, simply because I’m going that far back that you could purchase one of these with pound notes, and you could buy battenburg by the yard.

These are old and long established fish tanks, and I have a huge beam of a smile whenever I see one in a store, sat there like a reminder of the way fishkeeping used to be. I’d never thought that five pieces of glass with a crude black trim would get me so excited.

Aquaristic pioneers used these for everything. From long-term tanks for a brace of Neons, to quarantine set ups, to treatment tanks, and finally – the pinnacle of use for a 16” by 8” - a breeding set up. Set away from the tank proper, and filled with every imaginative spawning trigger conceivable, dab hands could take near anything and get it to breed in one of these.

I suspect that a vast amount of what we know today about spawning and rearing fish is thanks to the efforts of aquarists who relied on these tanks. In my mind I can conjure up images of tanks filled with mop heads, marbles, rainwater and Java moss. Truly it was a happier time… Two brilliant things were born in 1976, and the other one was the Polyfilter. The crazed lovechild of marine biology, medical pathology and polymer chemistry, Polyfilters are the superhero of the aquatic world, saving lives where all else has failed. And I’m not joking.

Tetra Fish Aquarium StayClear® Cleaning System 16 inch Scraper ...

This can be a a revolutionary product from most sensible to backside. The cleaning surface swivels in order that it is at all times towards the glass. the perimeters are rounded to prevent damage to aquarium seals. The maintain rotates 360 degrees. The maintain floats in order that it will now not sink within the water in case you drop it. The maintain is also ergonomically designed to maximise cleaning force with less attempt.

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Tetra is a tropical fish. In its natural habitat the water temperature stays between 23 degrees and 28 degrees C (74 degrees F – 82 degrees F). I suggest a temperature of about 24Ì? degrees C or 75Ì? degrees F for a community tank including this fish. It is more flexible in its pH and hardness requirements than most tetras, being able to survive a pH range of from 5.5 to 8, and it can take quite hard water. I suggest neutral pH (7) for a mixed community.

Companions

Lemon Tetras are very much a schooling fish and I suggest that at least five and preferably more be kept together. A large group of Lemon Tetras are less likely to shyly hide and more likely to Boldly Swim in the open near the surface of the tank, creating a stunning display. The Lemon Tetra will certainly be less stressed in a large school and more likely to stay healthy.

Common companions for Lemon Tetras include Neon Tetras, Black Widow Tetras, Cardinal Tetras, Emperor Tetras, Head and Tail Light Tetras, Glass Bloodfin Tetras, Glowlight Tetras, Guppies, Endlers Guppies, Neon Tetras, Peppered Catfish, Siamese Fighting Fish, White Cloud Mountain Minnows and Zebra Danios. Note that not all these common companions are compatible with each other.

Fish I would not suggest as companions for Lemon Tetras are the larger and more aggressive fish and the ones that need different conditions. These includes many of the Cichlids as well as such fish as the Whale Shark which requires completely different conditions as well as being on the large size for a community tank of small fish.

Breeding

In the wild the Lemon Tetra breeds with huge numbers of fish at a time. During and after spawning, many fish, including the Lemon Tetras themselves eat some of the eggs. In captivity this fish is considered by many people to be a moderately difficult fish to breed.

It is an egg scatterer like most of the tetras and tends to release its eggs over fine leaved plants. Like most tetras, it does not look after its babies and will eat both the eggs and the young fish. A group of Lemon Tetras is more likely to breed successfully than a single pair, but if you want to save most of the fry you need to remove the parents.

The Aquarium Fish Survival Manual

Tropical fish hobbyist

Aquarium fish magazine

A Man for All Species, The Remarkable Adventures of an Animal Lover and Expert Pet Keeper

Tetras and other characins, everything about history, setting up an aquarium, health concerns, and spawning