bullying with in a shoal

[beastie_boy]

this is my first thread here so be gentle eh...

My tank has been thriving with fish for the past three weeks now. I have:

2 neon Tetras (had 3 but i died after two days)
2 X-ray Tetras
9 Silvertip Tetras

All lived very happy apart from the Neons who just split up and wonder around but still seemingly happy.

Anyway in the tank there is 3 males, one being and x-ray and two silvertips. One of the silvertip males is quiet but the other has recenlty started to become aggresive. Firt he chased the X-ray around who is bigger than him and now the X-ray has submitted he will not let any of the other fish go into the right side of the tank he swims back and forth like he is protecting the right side. When feeding the fish swim evrywhere but as soon as it's ove the male silvertip get straight down to business and bullys them back to the left side.

Now with him obviopusly being the head male i would assume maybe in the future there maybe some love in the tank but surely after three weeks.

So is it pure bullying or does anybody beleive in this case romance is quick to sail?

Thanks anyway.

[demon_surfer]

ive noticed that my neons are constantly taking swipes at each other. i doubt anythign will come of it, just watch and enjoy :)

plus how can you identify the males and females? i was inder the impression that it was near impossible :o


as opposed to them breeding it is very very unlikely, most tetras, neons among them are very difficult to breed in captivity and the people that do breed them have a complex method for enducing spawning. BUT it is not unknown for them to get to it in a regular aquarium, but it is more than likely any eggs will be eaten

[Roland]

beasie boy, being in the uk, there is a good article about shoaling fishes in the current issue of practical fishkeeping magazine, which you can get from WH Smith. Its very interesting.

[Tightdog1]

first of all you need more neon tetras! they need to be in a school.

and how big of a tank are they all in?

[beastie_boy]

I have taken your advice and bought more neons. While at the aquatic centre I spotted a Male betta splendens (fighting fish) on it's own in a huge tank and with no hiding place or plants. I couldn't help feel sorry for the him so after discussion with the fish guy I brought Elvis home and introduced him to the fish. I also though that this may stop some of the bullying in the tank if there was a bigger male fish in there.

It seems so have done the trick and Elivs seems more active and is eating well so hopefully they are all getting on. Also the othe neons introduced into the tank have established fist contact with the other neons and seem to have formed a neon only club.

Thanks for your help and your advice was helpful. Any advice on how to best feed Elvis?:)

[demon_surfer]

Elvis will do great on the flakes you are probably giving to your neons, but if you prefer there are any number of betta specialized foods you can pick up, but they are not hard to feed.

i love my neons hehe, they dont all shoal together but it is neat watching them move around the tank in little clumps :)

[TomFromStLouis]

My betta is not too fond of flake food but loves freeze dried and frozen bloodworms. I imagine there are plenty of choices out there, see what he likes.