Red eye tetra help

KevG

KevG

AC Members
Jul 8, 2010
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Mtl.Qc.Ca
I have 4 red eye's.
1 was the last of 3 from about 9 months ago when I started back in the hobby.
I got 3 more about 3 months ago to get him out of his corner.
It seemed to have worked but today I noticed 3 of the 4 have .. basically a swollen lip.
Can't tell which is which anymore but the one that is fine is smaller and shows less posturing then the others.
Both lips are swollen but the bottom is protruding and red below it.

They are not schooling and when they are close they nip at each others sides.
They don't seem to have any problem with the rest of the fish.

I'm just worried it's not just behavioural and could be an illness, disease or parasite.
They are all eating well and acting as usual, so I don't know..
Suggestions welcome :)

fatlip3.jpg DSC00701.JPG
 
water parameters are good.
Fish stock is red eyes, bleeding hearts, neons, cardinals, glowlights, black neons, panda corys, 1 lonely angel :( that I don't know what to do with yet ( just lost his buddy)
1 fantail. and 4 nirite zebra snails :)
All the other fish are fine and seem well adjusted..
 
Sorry about the fishy losses. Ive never kept the red eyes before so Im not much help. Hope someone pops in here with some good advice for you.
 
Man I wish i could help you, I just bought some red-eyes two days ago. I popped on here to hopefully find something out about my fish. Im sorry to hear about your fish. KIT with me, i would love to hear how things work out for you.
 
well I do have news.
I went to my lfs today. needed food and left with a new eheim 2213 for my 30G I want to get up and going... but anyways back on topic:
So I asked my guy there about my red eyes condition and he withought hesitation says they are fighting.
He has seen it get so bad that one will completly tear the lower jaw off of another red eye.
when they lock jaws they will both get hurt regardless if one wins or it is a stand off.
Which leads to the redness I am seeing in their lower jaw and the swollen lips.
They also are showing bruising (grey color instead of shiny silver) in spots on their sides.
He recommended that be kept in schools of 6 to 10. I only have 3 left.
My issue is honestly I don't like them very much.
Once I get my 30G up and cycled I will add them in there as my starter fish.
If they do well I think I will give them away.
My big issue with them is they are very nervous and seem agitated or 'angry' all the time.
But it's probably my fault and not theirs (don't want to discourage or infuriate any that have or want them). They need atleast 6 to have a proper pecking order and lots of hiding places.
I only have 3 (as mentioned) and I do have lots of hiding places but it is quite the full community so they don't really have their own 'spot'.
Hopefully they can chill until I get the 30G ready for them.
 
KevG said:
My issue is honestly I don't like them very much.
Once I get my 30G up and cycled I will add them in there as my starter fish.
If they do well I think I will give them away.
My big issue with them is they are very nervous and seem agitated or 'angry' all the time.
But it's probably my fault and not theirs (don't want to discourage or infuriate any that have or want them). They need atleast 6 to have a proper pecking order and lots of hiding places.
I only have 3 (as mentioned) and I do have lots of hiding places but it is quite the full community so they don't really have their own 'spot'.
Hopefully they can chill until I get the 30G ready for them.
Click to expand...

I hear you on that one. They are very skiddish, and at the slightest noise go darting in all directions. I picked up six of them, and as soon as they school up it seems like one scares the rest of them away. But, i suppose it is what it is, I'll see how they adapt in my tank, and just roll with it.
 
< - current keeper or Red-Eyes...

I agree, you need more of them so that the dominant one can't spend enough time beating on any other individual to cause that kind of damage.

I've also seen that they're jumpy - I've has 2 carpet surfing deaths and a near-miss. I think I have 7 in my 46g tank at the moment.
 
Update:
The two that remained injured are now healed and have schooled with the non combattant and they are peaceful. They actually look to the bleeding hearts for guidance, it's cool!
(the evolution of my fish_world is always changing!)
 
Loss of one small marble angel and one red eye has really adjusted the whole community.
neons, cardinals, glowlights and black neons VS. red eyes, bleeding hearts.
Fan tail as the crowd booster!
Nirites as the independent observers
And one lone angel to walk the roost hehe
But they all seem to co-exist nicely now :)
 
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