Family: Characidae
Distribution: Boehlkea fredcochui, or Cochu’s Blue Tetra, is a species distributed throughout the rivers of South America, particularly Peru, Leticia, Rio Maranon.
PH: 6.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 22°C – 26°C (72 – 79F)
Hardness: 5 – 12 dH
Description: Boehlkea fredcochui grow to around 4 cm in length and have a life expectancy of approximately three years. This species has a beautiful, distinctive blue base colouration, with some silver elements. Females are slightly fatter than males and have a less intense colouration.
Diet: Cochu’s Blue Tetra is omnivorous and will accept most foods offered to it. However, it seems to enjoy vegetable-based flake foods. You should mix things up by offering it frozen or live foods on occasions; bloodworm and brine shrimp will do nicely.
Breeding: It may be a good idea to lower the pH and water hardness slightly to induce breeding. There is not a lot of information available on this species’ breeding habits, but it does appreciate broad leaf plants to lay its eggs under. You should make sure you remove the eggs – or the parents – as soon as breeding has been completed. If you don’t, the eggs will almost certainly be eaten.
Comments: This species doesn’t need a big aquarium – but you should house them in no less than a 30 gallon tank. It has an active personality and will need the space so as to prevent a build-up of aggression. Provide open swimming spaces in the middle-bottom area of your tank, and some plants or hiding spaces. Driftwood, rocks or pot plants will provide shelter. This species will require you to pay strict attention to water conditions if it is to display its brightest colouration.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: Cochu’s Blue Tetra is an active shoaling fish that can nip the fins of other species if frustrated. You should keep it in groups of six or more in a large tank, and avoid housing it with placid, long-finned species.
They will live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates.
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