Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

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Lardy
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Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2024 7:33 am

Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by Lardy »

Hi all,

My tank setup will be as follows:
- 10x Nhamunda Royal Blue (L - XL Size)
- 20+ x Corydoras Julii
- 10 x Carnegiella strigata strigata (currently in quarantine)

I'm also thinking of adding a school of tetras to the middle part of the tank.
I'd love to have Cardinals, but aren't they typically found in Rio Grande black water environments?

I'm open to suggestions for other tetra species that would match my tank's setup.

Best Regards,
Harri
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wilde
Posts: 90
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:47 pm

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by wilde »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

I've had cardinal tetras before and they're truly a sight to behold. However, my experience has shown that discus will see them as a food source and hunt them down within a couple of months. I've found that they tend to leave rummynose tetras alone, which are great for schooling. The only issue I have with rummynose is that they can appear dull in a bare tank. But if your tank is well-planted, they might be worth considering. I'm curious to see how hatchetfish would fare with discus.
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Deepsea
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Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by Deepsea »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

We need pics of that setup Harri, pics.
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barks
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Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2023 4:52 am

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by barks »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Thanks for the insight on the Rummy Nose Tetras. I've got a setup with a sand bottom and some driftwood, pretty bare, and I was curious why mine aren't as vibrant as the ones I had before - those were in a planted tank.
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Finny
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Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:41 pm

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by Finny »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

I'm also a fan of Rummynose, they're fantastic schooling fish. I've found that keeping a decent-sized school, at least 25, really brings out their colors and personality. They're truly amazing little fish.

wilde, that's a great point about the discus and neons. I've had similar issues with my neons, and now I'm wondering if the discus are the culprits. Never would've suspected that.
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wilde
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Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by wilde »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Originally posted by Finny

...Is that what is happening to my neons??? Never would have guessed that one.

I've never mixed neons with my discus, but those new green neons are really tempting. The discus seem to have a knack for eating the cardinals, though - they just inhale them. I've never had any issues with cardinals fading, except when they became a discus snack.
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Finny
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Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by Finny »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope











Never had neons with my discus, although I'm sorely tempted to try all the new neons coming into the trade. Those green ones look sweet. I never had any fading with cardinals though, except right when the discus inhaled them.



I've lost about 10 rummynose in a week. All my neons are gone now. I'm pretty sure I know the culprit - my discus are hungry.
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wilde
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Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by wilde »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

I came across some YouTube videos of discus in their natural habitat - about 10 of them. Watching those, I was struck by what a true discus biotope looks like.

No plants, no leaf litter on the bottom. No other fish - no tetras, corys, plecos, or dwarf cichlids. Just discus, and strong currents. Quite a contrast to the wild altum/scalare angelfish videos. It seems like discus just want to be left alone, no tankmates to bother them.
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silence
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Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2022 3:00 pm

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Post by silence »

Re: Amazon -Nhamunda - Biotope

Larger fish with smaller fish within reach are likely to eat them - it's just a matter of time. I've had my share of gorgeous rummies and cardinals in other tanks, but with discus, I just can't trust it. I've managed to keep shrimp safe with 'shrimp coves' using rock, cholla wood, and plants, but with rummies or cardinals, they're basically swimming next to their predators.

I'm in a similar spot, with a school of cories and discus, and considering adding another mid-level school. The problem is, those larger options are super efficient eaters and can outcompete the discus for food. It's tough to figure out... I'm leaning towards not adding anything, but it would definitely make my planted tank stand out.
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