Suicidal Neons!!

[Chele&Luke]

Well my first fatality was to the filter - got that sorted and they can't get in the back of it anymore...

NOW one of the silly sods has gone and wedged itself well and truly into the driftwood - ARRRGHHH!!!! :thud:

2 are AWOL - tho not unusual, they usually all turn up at mealtimes, I only send out the 'search party' when they don't turn up for food! (Feed x2 daily - they still babies)

Are these fish inherently stupid or is there something I could be doing to 'coddle' them better? :confused:

On the plus side my corys are doing GREAT!! Want more! Love 'em :grinyes:

Water parametres all good - Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate raised to 5ish ppm (usually have 0 - think the moss might be keeping it down maybe?? Suspect rise is due to me not hunting for my latest 'victim' til he missed a few meals! *hang head in shame*

PH has dropped to 6.8 after the addition of driftwood - assuming this is ok?

Starting to wonder if I'm just not meant to keep neons :sad:

[nickmcmechan]

all seems ok...the neons prefer the lower pH with the driftwood....bizzarre really

[msjinkzd]

sounds like you are doing things right...perhaps they just need some firm parental guidance, a strict lecture ;)

[pcnicholson]

Only been doing this for a few months but I have learned one thing for sure. Some fish are just plain stupid. I have some real bright ones that recognize me and eat from my fingers others, well let's just say they are "special" My mixed neon/cardinal school can be like that and I have no idea how bumblebee gobies survive in the wild. They are without a doubt the stupidest fish I have ever seen.

[StereoKills]

None of the Neon Tetras I've had seemed to be very bright. One would stay about one inch in front of my Red Claw Crab. The crab would swipe at it and the Neon would back up a little, but drift right back to where it was moments ago! It seemed to be trying to win a staring competition or something. After a few days of narrowly avoiding the pincers, my crab finally had a fish sandwich right before my eyes.

[gingerinaustin]

I have no idea how bumblebee gobies survive in the wild. They are without a doubt the stupidest fish I have ever seen.

I could not agree more. I can't decide if they're blind, dumb or both (probably both)--cute as buttons but good lawd they are pinheads. Any fish on earth could outcompete them for food. Target feeding doesn't work--all the other fish quickly learned "hey, worms come out that blue plastic tube!" but not the bumblebee gobies--they actually swim away when they see the tube coming. The other fish in the tank will be working themselves into a feeding frenzy, mouths stuffed full, and the bumblebee gobies will just sit there going "d'oh, when's dinner served?" while fresh worms crawl on their foreheads. Quite frankly I'm amazed the poor dumb things are still alive.

[Chele&Luke]

sounds like you are doing things right...perhaps they just need some firm parental guidance, a strict lecture ;)

Will you QUIT KILLING YOURSELVES DARNIT!! :nono: :rant2:


After a few days of narrowly avoiding the pincers, my crab finally had a fish sandwich right before my eyes.

:laugh: Not very nice thing to happen but kinda reassuring if you know what I mean!! :laugh:

Anyway - disaster has struck yet again!! :sad: :sad: :sad:

Only 6 turned up for dinner last night - so I have spent the morning pulling the tank apart and doing an (accidental) LARGE water change in the search for more little fatalities...

Remember that filter I very carefully covered with a nylon stocking? Well after searching high and low - I only had FOUR turn up this morning - it was the absolute LAST place I went looking thinking it was 'safe' for them...

Yep - not to be discouraged they found yet ANOTHER way to kill themselves in that filter :jaw-dropping: :huh: :thud:

After lights out they had a 'suicide party' round the back... :cry:

I have NO IDEA how to cover up that part of the filter - it needs to be open so the sucker things keep it attached to the back :confused:

I am going to do my utmost to keep my four *sob* survivors alive, but I will not be replacing any of the departed until I have a new filter that doesn't eat them!!

I feel soooo bad for my poor lil fishies...

[cooldude123]

neons bug me...they all look at me funy like like i got 6 heads

[msjinkzd]

what kind of filter is this? is it a hob type? Could you get a filter sponge (like the kind made for ac filters) and cut it to size and slip it over the intake?

[Chele&Luke]

Unfortunately it's not the intake that's the problem - it's around the back where the motor thingie clips in... There's 2x slits there, I'm pretty surprised they managed to get themselves wedged in there, much less 4 at the same time!!

The filter is an Elite Stingray 15 if that helps.

Ironically I was looking at getting another hob filter last Tuesday, and decided to put it off because it wasn't 'essential' and was $50... Should have gone with my instincts and got it then!!

I like that the Stingray intake is WAY down the bottom so it picks up a lotta gunge from down there, I don't like that my lfs doesn't stock media for it and it eat small fishies!! It's also 'kinda' bulky - not too bad really, but I prefer the hobs and they much easier to clean.

Am banning myself from keeping tetras until I get a new filter!

[Rbishop]

I would go for a new HOB and lose the stingray.

[msjinkzd]

i agree

[Chele&Luke]

:iagree:

No more Neons until I have a hob filter and lose "The Tetra-nator" ;)

Have written a little about a tank I'm considering buying (that's coldwater right now), with a hob filter... If it gets some positive feedback here I will grab it!

Doing my very best to keep my 'survivors' alive, but have had 1 more not turn up for breakfast - my heart just isn't in foraging through the filter tonight :sad:

Hoping he will turn up for dinner *fingers crossed*

[RedDawg]

ive had many neon tetras and many have died in wierd circumstances

ive had healthy ones (one i saw a few otheres i didnt seee) swim into the intake and jus go limp!

some have burried themselves in java moss or roots of other plants and not come out! just die where they are!

neons are wierd maybe they get bored of there life and just do themselves in! All my neons that have died have been part of a school and looked healthy before hand!

[StereoKills]

During my move on Sunday, my last remaning neon decided to hitch a ride on the syphon when I was draining the tank. He was fine, but I was so sure I had the end of it covered well with my fingers I just didn't expect anything to get through/even close. Just shows how they find anyway to get into strange situations.

[Daniel_MoY]

"I'm Bored, what happens if I bang my head on this here log 10 or 15 times?"
"Ohh look something is covering up where the water is going, I should find out what's there." or "there's the hand that feeds me, lets see if he has any food."
"Ohhh nice flow here, think i will just take a nap."
"Ohh look a big space, wonder if we get 5 of us together in that space what would happen? hey boy's come here a sec."
"hey this plant has nice roots, I wonder what happens If I swim in them?" then "Wow that was hard work, think I take a nice nap."

or just plain

"Weeeeeee"

Hehehehe Can just see this going through the fishes mind.

[Chele&Luke]

"I'm Bored, what happens if I bang my head on this here log 10 or 15 times?"

"Ohh look a big space, wonder if we get 5 of us together in that space what would happen? hey boy's come here a sec."
or just plain

"Weeeeeee"

:laugh: Yep, think that is actually a pretty fair description of my lil guys! :wall:

Two more have since decided to 'explore' that mysterious black hole behind the 'Tetra-nator' :(

Reassuring to know I'm not a completely irresponsible fish keeper and other people too have had this problem with them!

I'm just grateful Lukey can't count!!!

[msjinkzd]

I am sorry you are struggling with the neons, that is no fun...on a different note, I think your posts are some of the most fun to read. You have a phenomenal personality! Good luck with the rest of your fish and let us know if that 47g comes through.

[Chele&Luke]

Thanks "msj" (how I've thought of you in my head since 'meeting' in the chat room when you helped me out!)

I feel sure if we were local we'd be dropping by for cups of coffee, burnt muffins and a jolly good goss!!

I really enjoy your posts also - I have learned sooo much (bet you never even knew I was there in most of 'em lol). I admire your patience and willingness to help others - even when I'm sure you've answered that same question a million times before, and your good humour doing so!

I have been very lucky with having you and the other good natured folk drop by my threads and offer so much excellent advise!! It's a WAY big bonus if you actually enjoying reading them!

14 hours til the tank is supposed to be dropped off - arrrghhh - my nerves are shot!! I'm just hoping it arrives in one piece!!! All going well I will be posting pics of Sir Fugly shortly after :grinyes:

[Daniel_MoY]

So you know, it's because of this thread I just have to get some Tetras, Neon, Cardional (sp), and rummynose. I will take good care of them and watch to see how they amuse themselfs.

[raduque]

"Ohh look a big space, wonder if we get 5 of us together in that space what would happen? hey boy's come here a sec."

"Weeeeeee"



So you mean they're kinda like red necks?
:D

"Hey ya'll c'mon over here and watch this! :uhoh: "
:laugh:


(No offense to any red necks who keep them thar "in-home fishin' holes" :Angel: )

[Daniel_MoY]

bah, they gota be hard fish to keep, I killed all mine in 2 days, (see post about "what did i do wrong")