Agressive White Cloud Mountain Minnow

[rosewx12]

Hi,

I have a 10 gallon tank with 2 (was 4) White Cloud Mountain Minnows. They went through a round of sickness when I first got them which killed one. I just lost a second. He seemed healthy but smaller then the others and skittish before I found him in the filter. The issue I'm having is one of my other minnows has been active very aggressive. He chased the one that died when ever it came near him. Now that it's gone I saw him nipping at his last tank mate but since they are more evenly sized is not being as bad. I read that this behavior can occur when a schooling fish does not have a proper school. I was planning on fixing this today but the LFS I trust is out of minnows for the next 2 weeks.

- Can I leave the two minnows together with one acting this way? Or is he a danger to the other.

- Will adding the rest of the school solve the problem if it's related to school size... or do I just have an aggressive fish?

Thank you,
Rose

 

[rufioman]

Welcome! You're problem might be caused by a number of things. How many other fish are in there? I keep a pair in my 100g and have no issues with them. They usually stick together and mob around, even. The 10g could simply be too small? What and how often do you feed them? Also, fish do act strange when kept in weird, low numbers. But what are your water parameters? Could it be disease what's killing them off? Lots of questions to ponder. Good luck!

:cheers:

 

[Belltrain]

I have a trio right now used to be 6 but they got attacked and where stressed acclimating to the current. The Trio is fine but the thing is one is an outcast. The largest most colorful whitecloud always attacks him and drives him into the corner. He is fine with the other one it seems it may be a female. I believe my problem and yours is due too numbers. A school of 6 is a good number to minimize agression. And that is what I plan to do is bump up the school back too 6. Good luck hope this helps.

 

[Belltrain]

It is the same with my Gold Barbs. I have no agression or nipping other fish or themselves.I have a school of 6 and they are always preoccupied with themselves.

 

[londonloco]

They are super cheap, go buy more, you need a larger school. I have several tanks with wcm's as dithers. I find in my tanks, less than 5 and I have aggression problems. 5 or more and all problems cease to exist.