I Feel Bad But......

[boofish2]

I think I'm going to return my Blackskirts. They have been just downright evil. Not only have they harrassed 2 of their own (resulting in one death) they are constantly nipping all my other fish (resulting in a dead serpae), they feed soooo aggressively even the gouramis is having trouble finding enough food and instead of a community tank, I feel like I own a constant battle zone! I'd almost rather just have no tetras and maybe a couple of rams, or even one angel then 3 not so colorful, highly aggressive tetras! I'm sorry to vent, it's just that I've been awake at night wondering who's going to be all beat up in the morning. Has anyone returned fish to their LFS? Mine said they'd gladly accecpt any healthy donations. I don't know, I just wanted a tank that I can look at and feel good, not nervous and anxiety ridden!! :(

[DaisyTattoo]

I had blackskirts and found they were less agressive in larger groups..I'm talking 6 or more. With the size of your tank though, I would say returning them is probably a good idea.

I returned a red tailed black shark because it was constantly harrassing my rainbow shark, but as soon as it was out of the tank, the rainbow shark began harrasing my flying fox. So he went back too. Don't feel too bad. I didn't.

[Marinemom]

I had that happen too. Just return them. Alot of people do this because who wants a war zone? I would go for a more peaceful fish. Just so you know, the serpae tetras are prone to the same behavior.

Marinemom

[boofish2]

thanks ladies! Yeah, I feel bad but I feel worse when I add a new fish and it's attacked!!

[DaisyTattoo]

I like pristella tetras. They are super friendly. I don't think they are capable of attacking anything and they are much smaller than the blackskirts. You could probably put a school of 7 or so in your tank.

[YoFishboy]

You shouldn't feel bad at all about returning the fish. You are saving the rest of the fish in your tank, and, obviously, the tetras aren't happy either. I have taken advantage of liberal fish return policies ove the years and it was always for the best. It's always a game of hit or miss in a glass box full of water - some fish don't always perform as advertised! Take care!

[Tetras_Rule33]

I have two white skirt tetras, same thing as black skirts, and they fight against each other but not in really agresssive ways. Just if one gets in anothers way, it'll nip them lightly and chase them for a bit. But they are fine I guess because I have had them for over a year. But I would return yours. I had to return a tiger barb because it killed my molly. Atleast it will get back with its other kind.

[Star_Rider]

don't feel bad..you are actually doing yourself and your fish a favor.

those black skirts would prob be okay in a semi aggressive tank.

if you go with pristella tetras you might want to rethink the angel.

[debaric]

this is unbelievable, my black skirts are such nice fish to each other and the other fish in my tank. I have seen some at the LFS that are really nasty. I dont know what cause some to be evil.

[boofish2]

this is unbelievable, my black skirts are such nice fish to each other and the other fish in my tank. I have seen some at the LFS that are really nasty. I dont know what cause some to be evil.
I know! Maybe someone wronged the ones I got. You know, unpaid loan, dumped by a girlfriend...... LOL But really, maybe b/c there's not a lot of fish in my tank the BSs decided it was THEIRS!?

[plah831]

I've actually heard a few complaints about black skirts being "evil". Other people have used that exact same word to describe them.

As others have already told you, don't feel bad at all. You tried something new, it didn't work. You have to do what's best for your CURRENT inhabitants. I think your older fish should get priority over the newer ones. So you did the right thing.

[DaisyTattoo]

if you go with pristella tetras you might want to rethink the angel.
I wouldn't put an angel in a 20G tank anyway, but why wouldn't you put pristellas with an angel? I have an angel with mine and have yet to run into any problems.

[bettagurl]

i've had to take back mollies before because they were picking on my betta(he is scared of his own shadow)and i didnt feel bad.my friend has blackskirts in a community tank and they are very mellow,maby yours are just evil. :p:

[WrittenLyric]

I have to agree with marinemom. Serps seem all nice and cute when you're watching. Lights out? It's fevered fin nipping frenzy time.

[Star_Rider]

joimartens,

it's hit or miss with angles and fish they can fit in their mouths.

I raise mostly angels..the pristella only gets to about 1.3" i had oto's that got to 1.5 " and the angels ate them.


I have some sunset kois that are large and not even 1 yr old yet..

my experience with angels this large(6" and growing ) lends me to wonder what you can keep with these ;)

I keep wild angels also.watching them eat is amazing..they attack the food..they hover and when they see the food..they strike with lightening speed.
I can't help but think how much of this trait is left in the domestic angels.

that being said..it is not impossible to raise pristella's with angels...but I have seen cardinal tetras consumed and oto's consumed..there is always the possiblity other fish will get consumed..afterall an angel is still a cichlid....as peaceflu as they can be..there is always the cichlid in them.


I agree a 20 gallon community tank is no place for an angel.

tho a pair can occupy a 20 tall. barebottom..breeding tank.

[DaisyTattoo]

I see what you are saying. I know that they will eat anything they can fit into their mouths, I guess I assumed that a pristella is wide bodied enough not to be considered food. Of course my angel is still a juvie. Born in March. So I guess I will find out sooner or later ;)

[boofish2]

Well, I did it. It's funny what someone said about serpaes b/c they were a bit evil too! So I returned the three Blackskirts and the 2 Serpaes I had and now my tank is lookin' pretty empty. :(
I WAS thinking of getting an angel and just read the posts and some of you think it's not a great idea. No good even if there's
1 dwarf gouramis, 4 panda corys, and 2 SAEs? That's too bad. LFS had quite a few that looked like they really needed to be rescued.
Thanks for all your guys' positive reinforcement by the way, I don't feel so bad now that I know I'm not the only one who experienced the satin fish
:shark:

[corykid]

Ya that happens alot i was at my LFS today and they had a tank with returned fish it had 4 HUGE! black skirt tetras in it is have never seen them that big! They must have been alot of trouble.

[Star_Rider]

boofish,
the angels are probably juvenile(quarter sized or smaller) you could pull it for for a short time (read a couple months) but you would probably need to upgrade your tank.
a 25 is a good sized tank however, you could only pull off a pair of angels if it were only angels.
have you ever considered keyholes? or other dwarf acara?

[boofish2]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I ended up getting two very small angels. After acclimating them, they have only been slightly harrassed by the Gouramis. They were not in the best shape after getting them home from LFS and are kind of huddled together. One has slightly reddish gills which makes me believe there is some ammonia burn. I did a 40% water change before putting them in and after what I thought was a slight display of flashing by one I treated the tank with some Aquari-Sol which I find to be a much gentler alternative to Quick Cure. The good news is that after the treatment, the two seemed to perk up and so I fed them and they both ate verociously -- good sign. One had to be coaxed out of a hiding spot but once it saw the food it was all over it. I hope everyone does okay. I'm watching the tank like a hawk and will continue to do daily water changes of about 30% as well as continue the Aquaria-sol for a few more days. I am looking in to a bigger tank, but for now I'm just trying to keep everyone alive. Any other suggestions? FYI water perameters are:
ammonia - 0
nitrate - 0
nitrite - >5
temp - 80
ph - 6.5
pjs - blue with little clouds on them.

[iktomiwicasa]

Years ago I had tried keeping black skirts in my 150g community on a couple of occasions. Same behavior as you describe....just downright evil. A pity becuase they are such an elegant looking little fish. I finally gave up on them. I really think that "black skirt piranha" is a more accurate name ;)