Congo Tetras - too many boys...?

[WinterRose73]

Hi all, some weeks before lockdown I added some Congo tetras to the tank.

Now they have fully coloured up it seems that I have 1 female and 4 males. At least two of the males are going bananas and belting round the tank chasing each other and have wound up just about everything in there. Lots of flaring fins... I have just done a water change so that may have triggered something?

The fish that aren't darting about have fled to the bottom of the tank. It does seem to be settling down now...

With my stocking levels, I'm not sure if I have the capacity to add more females, which I assume would be the best approach to balancing it out?

I have about 15 harlequin rasboros (I can't count them, they're too quick), 10 black Ruby barbs, 4 neon rosy barbs and possibly 6 Corys. I hardly ever see the Corys so in all honesty I have no idea how they are doing or if they are actually all still alive.

Tank is around 190ltr, 24" deep and 32" length. Filter is external Eheim canister.

Given the above do I have the ability to add some females? If I am able to get any, that is - none of the LFS locally are selling livestock as far as I know...

Cheers

[Si4geckos]

I have 10 males and no females. Mine do the exact same behaviour and zip around in pairs occasionally and ofte after water changes. Think it's a dominance display/ competition. Your tank seems very small/ short for congos. Some of mine are 5 inches long and zip over 6ft at a time in my tank. I'd be looking at getting at least a 4ft, if not bigger tank rather than more congos personally. I wouldn't like to see mine in any less than a 5 ft now they're fully grown. I'm assuming yours are a it smaller/ younger?

[WinterRose73]

Hi, I reckon they are youngish then, they are certainly nowhere near the size you described yours as being.

Sadly no chance of upgrading to a longer tank, much as I would love to do so. Don't have the space or unfortunately the money. .

[plankton]

I'd be loathe to add more congos because of the tank size.

[Si4geckos]

I assume this is the behaviour you're seeing?


Here's a photo for scale. The sterbai is full grown/ 2 inches. As Plankton said, more congos is a bad idea.

[Baldwin]

I have the same number (same sex ratio too) as you and as far as I am aware it makes no difference to behaviour. You can have as many or as few males and females as you wish – providing you have space. Their behaviour can be a pain in the arse (they remind me of puppies) but it is nothing to worry about, mine do exactly the same thing. But deffo don't get any more. Mine are young (fins and colours not yet fully formed) and already quite big. My tank is 4 1/2 FT and I think I am going to right on the edge when they are fully grown.

[Si4geckos]

I have the same number (same sex ratio too) as you and as far as I am aware it makes no difference to behaviour. You can have as many or as few males and females as you wish – providing you have space. Their behaviour can be a pain in the arse (they remind me of puppies) but it is nothing to worry about, mine do exactly the same thing. But deffo don't get any more. Mine are young (fins and colours not yet fully formed) and already quite big. My tank is 4 1/2 FT and I think I am going to right on the edge when they are fully grown.

What's your water like? Hard/ soft/ PH, etc? I see you have the dwarf neon rainbows with them too. I've been tempted by rainbows for a while and wonder how they'd get one. Tempted to replace my cardinals with them.

[Baldwin]

I have the same number (same sex ratio too) as you and as far as I am aware it makes no difference to behaviour. You can have as many or as few males and females as you wish – providing you have space. Their behaviour can be a pain in the arse (they remind me of puppies) but it is nothing to worry about, mine do exactly the same thing. But deffo don't get any more. Mine are young (fins and colours not yet fully formed) and already quite big. My tank is 4 1/2 FT and I think I am going to right on the edge when they are fully grown.

What's your water like? Hard/ soft/ PH, etc? I see you have the dwarf neon rainbows with them too. I've been tempted by rainbows for a while and wonder how they'd get one. Tempted to replace my cardinals with them.

PH: 7.6
dGH: 17

The Neons are great! They were quarantined with the Congos so they all get on like a house on fire. I added them to a bunch of Embers (good) and a Betta (not so good – was fine at first, but it was all a bit raucous so he has since been removed) and everything is grand. But, ironically, I have had a few problems with Neon aggression due to ratios. I ordered 4 males and 4 females as recommended and I received 7 males(!), which was a nuisance. They drove each-other mad for the first few days, but they seem to have calmed down now. I may add some girls (but would want at least 7) at some point...
If you buy them, make sure you buy them from a store rather than online so you can choose sexes. Good luck!

[WinterRose73]

@Si4geckos yes,that's what they were doing. All calm today though.

@Baldwin thanks for your post. I wasn't sure if a single female would be picked on. To fair they weren't really pestering her, more just squabbling between themselves.


So I'm wondering now if I ought to try and rehome the ones I have or leave them be. There is no way at all I can upgrade to a larger tank, not for at least a year or two and even then space would be an issue.