Hi all, I have been successfully keeping freshwater fish in a community tank for about 3 years. I have a 46 gallon bowfront freshwater tank with the following occupants:
1 BN Pleco
3 Cory Catfish
9 Cardinal Tetra
2 Black Phantom Tetra (will be increasing it to a school of 6 next time I buy fish)
7 Albino Cherry Barb
2 Long Finned Rosy Barb
The tank is fully cycled, water parameters are good, and there is driftwood and plenty of fake vegetation. There are plenty of places for the fish to hide. I have learned a lot the past 3 years, but I sometimes need advice from time to time. I used to frequent "Aquatic Hobbyist", but I can't find it anymore. Does anybody know what happened to it? Anyway, AC looks like it can be a useful resource, so I just registered.
At present my tank is doing pretty well, however, something is nipping the tail fins of the cardinal tetras. I put 3 of the affected fish in a hospital tank. Their tails are growing back now. However, one of the 3 cardinals started nipping at the other 2! I didn't think Cardinal Tetras were supposed to be like that. Anyway, I put the one that was nipping back in the big tank.
I'm questioning what the right approach is to this situation.I'm starting to think that it is a losing battle. If I pull fish out when they get nipped, when I return them to the big tank they will probably get nipped again. I don't know what fish in the big tank is doing the nipping. I suspect the long finned rosy barbs are at fault, although I've never seen it happen. I wouldn't think the cardinals are nipping at each other, but then again, I saw it happen in the hospital tank.
Any thoughts/advice?
Thanks, Chuck
1 BN Pleco
3 Cory Catfish
9 Cardinal Tetra
2 Black Phantom Tetra (will be increasing it to a school of 6 next time I buy fish)
7 Albino Cherry Barb
2 Long Finned Rosy Barb
The tank is fully cycled, water parameters are good, and there is driftwood and plenty of fake vegetation. There are plenty of places for the fish to hide. I have learned a lot the past 3 years, but I sometimes need advice from time to time. I used to frequent "Aquatic Hobbyist", but I can't find it anymore. Does anybody know what happened to it? Anyway, AC looks like it can be a useful resource, so I just registered.
At present my tank is doing pretty well, however, something is nipping the tail fins of the cardinal tetras. I put 3 of the affected fish in a hospital tank. Their tails are growing back now. However, one of the 3 cardinals started nipping at the other 2! I didn't think Cardinal Tetras were supposed to be like that. Anyway, I put the one that was nipping back in the big tank.
I'm questioning what the right approach is to this situation.I'm starting to think that it is a losing battle. If I pull fish out when they get nipped, when I return them to the big tank they will probably get nipped again. I don't know what fish in the big tank is doing the nipping. I suspect the long finned rosy barbs are at fault, although I've never seen it happen. I wouldn't think the cardinals are nipping at each other, but then again, I saw it happen in the hospital tank.
Any thoughts/advice?
Thanks, Chuck
