Agressive Tetra

[pdpromo]

We have two flame tetras and two black skirt tetras as starter fish in our new tank. Ever since we got these four fish three weeks ago, one of the flame tetras has been bullying the other one. He tries to bully the black skirts, but they seem to stand up to him pretty well. The other flame tetra however is not a happy camper. Is this unusual behavior? Could the stress of the cycling be causing this? Should I take out the bully or the weaker fish?

I have read tremendous amounts of info on various web sites....but nothing about this.

Any help would be appreciated?

Thanks!

 

[PumaWard]

It's natural for things like this to happen sometimes... I have a neon that refuses to school with the others and if they get to close to them he violently bites them...

If it's non-stop, I would remove the aggressive one because he'll cause problems down the line...

You've baught shoaling species however to cycle your tank, which may be causing problems. Sometimes shoaling fish, when in small numbers, attack other aquarium dwellers because they do not feel safe. Don't get anymore fish, but from now on it would be best not choose shoaling fish to cycle or just pick one specie of shoaling fish to cycle.

Good luck

 

[bortsamson]

I have 4 black skirt and 2 gold skirt tetras, and sometimes they all school, other times not, usally, to me, it seems to me, they all school in the morning, and gradually go there seperate ways as the day goes on, untill I shut off the light. Sometimes they seem to fight, but they never actually *bite* each other, so maybe its just a form of entertainment???? lol, ida know, but yeah, they have been together for some time, and they have ALWAYS been this way, no ill effects!

 

[Leopardess]

Yes, Black Skirt tetras prefer to be kept in groups of six or more. Because you have two, the larger one's aggression is not divided among several fish, but rather concentrated on the smaller fish. If it keeps up, I would suggest getting more (though I don't know how big your tank is) or taking them both back and getting another kind of fish. Perhaps a smaller tetra for which you would have room for a school.

If the littler fish is constantly bullied, he will be stressed and therefore more prone to diseases such as ich/fin rot/fungal infections. This is even more so if the larger fish is inflicting wounds on the little guy.

Btw, have you ever thought about doing a fishless cycle?

 

[mdfwhite]

My method

I dont believe this is due too cycling.Tetras are fin biters, can you see chunks or tears in their fins. And also they are not the best fish to use for cycling, try barbs

I tried this method on two blk neons as i didnt have a large enough shoal and it worked a treat. Although when put back they hid for week or two but slowly gained confidence and now they get along fine and are now my most impressive swimmers.And i still dont have a large enough shoal.

Method.................
Most aquarists might say this is extreme or cruel, but take out the bully,put him in a small hospital tank and stress him out for 3-5 days (remember he is stessing your other fish).Put your finger or hand in the water and follow him around the tank, for a couple of minites a day till he seems a little stressed then stop,you may need to lower water level to get to him if in large hospital tank.If you cant do this increase shoal to at least 6 fish and like other people said it is spread out among more fish.

 

[Leopardess]

If the fish are provided for properly and held within a school of acceptable size, you shouldn't have to stress your fish out. Stress leads to disease and possibly death. It's not the fish's fault that its inherent instinctual behaviours are being interfered with in the aquarium setting. Schooling fish are schooling fish. Most often, when there are enough to form a sufficient school for the species, aggression isn't a problem.

As far as cycling, no that has nothing to do with the aggression (although if the fish are in discomfort their attitude could be less than perfect, I suppose), but cycling using ammonia and not fish doesn't involve harming the fish.