Killer Bleeding Heart Tetra?

SuperScro

SuperScro

AC Members
Sep 3, 2006
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When I lost my Ram, my tank only had my pair of hatchetfish and bleeding heart tetra in my system. Recently, I bought about 8 little cardinal tetras, whom have disappeared one by one since I got them. The first day I had 8, the next morning I had 5, the third morning i had 3, and now I have 1 all beat up. My water quality is not bad, 20 trates, P.h. 6.5, Temperature 77. They just vanished, and I figure it could be the one bleeding heart tetra. I was pretty upset to see them all gone, and wouldn't understand why the tetra would kill all of the cardinals. I don't know of any other possibilities because they all disappeared.

He chases around the other bleeding heart tetra, but never bothers the hatchets. I don't want him to chase any other fish I decide to get. What should I do? Could it have been because the cardinals were so small and the BH tetra was much bigger?
 
Did you acclimate slowly?? How many Bleeding Hearts do you have??
 
If you only have one that may be the problem. Bleeding hearts, while not the nippiest fish, still can pick on other fish. If in a school they tend to pick on their own and any nipping is spread out among the school.
 
My tank is 15 gallons. I have 2 BH Tetras. I bought 8 cardinals. Acclimation took about an hour.
 
You mentioned you have one cardinal all beat up. How does it look? Does it have severely nipped fins? I'd consider rehoming the bleeding hearts if these are suspected to be the culprits. How are the hatchets doing in the tank so far?
 
2 bleeding hearts is not enough, you need about 6+ to spread the "aggressiveness". A 15 gal is too small for that amount though. :(
I have 12 BH in my 100gal. and they do not bother the other tetras which includes neons and cardinals.
 
jpappy789 said:
If you only have one that may be the problem. Bleeding hearts, while not the nippiest fish, still can pick on other fish. If in a school they tend to pick on their own and any nipping is spread out among the school.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
I have 5 BH Tetras, and 5 Red Serpaes in my community tank, they do tend to chase thier own species.
 
I would take the BHs back, because that tank is too small for a proper school and they'll probably pick at anything new in the tank. Also, consider getting some more hatchets, 3-5 would be good. They're a schooling fish, although they don't tend to school in small numbers.

You mentioned you had 20 nitrates, what are the ammonia and nitrites? I know of a lot of fish that look "beat up" when they have bad water parems.
 
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