Actually I've don't worry to much about the water conditions on
werneri. I've kept them in soft acid water 6.0 to pH 9.5. They've
spawned and raised fry under those different conditions. I have kept
them in community tanks but its been rather difficult to get enough
food to the werneri in those tanks. If I only had a couple of tanks
and had the time to insure they got enough food, I would assume they
could do well. I do keep two strains. One gets huge and could probably
do better in a community situation. One is significantly smaller (but
much better color) and would probably have a harder time under
community conditions. I think it would really depend on the amount of
attention you gave the werneri, the strain of werneri and what fish
you kept them with. Some people are blessed with the perfect water
which definately doesn't hurt. And others have the time to give closer
care to an indivdual species which is probably a better road to
success.
And with that, I think I'll go give a little care to those 48 tanks of
hungry, waiting fish :`)
Later
Cary Hostrawser
Minnesota Aquarium Society
http://www.mn-aquarium.org/
Rainbowfish Study Group of North America
http://home.earthlink.net/~sbuckel/index.html