Neon Tetra being a bully HELP!

Siresin

Siresin

AC Members
Mar 13, 2011
8
0
0
California
Real Name
Stephanie
Hello everyone! Well I'm having some trouble with one of my Tetras. He is the smallest of the three I have and he is the most aggressive. Especially with my female Tetra. He is alway bitting her and nipping her fins :mad2:. So now the two are in the coners of the tank while the bully is swimming happily all around the center. I tried rearranging the decorations but he still is aggressive to the other fish when they pass by. What should I do to calm him down a bit. I dont want him to kill my fishes. Especially when I get my other Tetras. I want to at least get 2 more but not if he is going to harrass them like the others. I would appreciate any advice you have. Thank you!
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The more you have the less of an issue this will be. Three is too small a number for a shoaling fish and this behaviour is to be expected in this situation.
 
Thank you for the advice. I'm glad the behavior is temporary. I had planned on getting more tetras but when doing reseach I read that when introducing fishes to a new aquarium I should start with 2-3 at a time. So thank goodness this behavior wont last.
 
... is there any way you can corral the nipper of from the rest of the gang - until you can add more Neons?

*The only time I have experienced Neons with an attitude was when there was a sick one in the school* :confused:
 
I think the problem might be fixed but of course something else has to go wrong. Yesturday I was closely observing them and it seems the change in the decorations helped. Although two seem to enjoy chasing each other there is no more nipping. But now I think my female tetra might be sick. Not sure if it is due to the previous aggression or if I brought her from the store like that. The last water change I started to add a little aqurium salt to help them fight any sickness, but she still stays close to the same spot all the time. The only time she moves away from it is when I feed the fish. But she is alway last to eat and then goes back to her spot. Is she sick or just shy?
 
add more tetras they are a school fish. in that case the more the merrier. it could be that the bully was attacking her because she was sick? i remember reading that this is possible
 
I agree, a few more would solve the issue. It is true that you should limit the amount of fish you add at a time, but for small shoaling fish, 6 is fine to add at a time in that size tank. I have tetras too (granted, cardinal, not tetra) but I added 5 and never had any issues...

Good luck! :)
 
Thank you so much for your advice, I will definatly go buy some more tetras soon. I'm sure that would make them much more happy with more friends to group with. Thank you very much again!
 
Oh, and I'd stop with the salt. It only cures a limited range of diseases and like any medication should only be added once you've diagnosed the need to do so. Neons come from very pure waters very low in dissolved minerals of any kind and do not benefit from the addition of them - long term, quite the opposite.

"Aquarium Salt" has no justification at all (sorry, pet rant). If you want to create brackish conditions, then you need marine salt. If you want to cure disease or combat nitrite toxicity, then table salt will do the job fine.
 
Wow I had no clue, thank you for the tip! I'm so glad to fix this problem early. And just an update, I bought some more Neons now they are all doing well and very happy! So thanks to everyone who took the time to give me GREAT advice.
 
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