Red Eye Tetras

[sheheartsfish]

I have had a school of 6 Red Eye Tetras for two weeks, and they are super shy.
They hide all the time, only coming out to eat/school/be active when the lights are turned off.

Is this normal Red Eye behavior? I was hoping for an active school of fish
to liven up the tank, but the tank just looks empty most of the time.
Their tankmate is a juvenile Blood Parrot, who also hides a lot, but that is to be expected.

 

[tanker]

How big is your tank?? Is your tank cycled?? What are your water perams??

 

[sheheartsfish]

It's a 40 gallon breeder, yes it is cycled, and my last water test, everything was normal.

I am just curious if Red Eye Tetras are normally this shy/not active as other Tetras.
The Blood Parrot isn't aggressive towards them at all. I thought all Tetras were active?

 

[Ballyhoo]

40gal is going to be waaaay to small for that blood parrot in a month or so.

 

[rainbowcharmer]

I have red-eyes in my 75 gal with a Severum and a group of Julii cories. I started with 12 tetras, but at last count I think I have 10 now (got them October of 09). Anyhow, mine are very active and they are out/about all the time. It is pretty heavily planted with floating plants (they swim among the roots a lot), and I've got a good amount of driftwood too that I see them swimming around quite a bit. So I don't know if mine are normal or yours are normal, but the behavior is about opposite I'd say. They're also very aggressive eaters and compete well with the severum for their meals.

 

[user_name]

I have 3 in my 55planted, and they hide all the time. There isn't any predatory or aggressive fish in there, and I hardly ever see them. Plenty of cover in the tank too....

 

[sheheartsfish]

Thanks for all the replies. I think mine are just shy right now, since it's a new environment.
I have a few fake plants, a clay pot, and a rock cave in my tank, so plenty of hiding spot for them.
I do see them every now and then racing around the tank, and swimming in/around the plants.

40gal is going to be waaaay to small for that blood parrot in a month or so.

I disagree. 36" x 18" x 16" has plenty of room for a single blood parrot.
I have a 55 gallon HOB on it, and do weekly water changes, so water quality is always good.
Plus with the clay pot, cave, and extra swimming room, I believe she is very happy, and will continue to be when she is an adult.

 

[Ballyhoo]

I have 2 blood parrots that reached 10" and may have been a little bigger. Swimming room isn't the only issue, bioload needs to be taken into consideration as well.

http://aquariumlore.blogspot.com/2006/07/blood-parrots.html states that 20 gal for juvies 50+ for adults
http://www.parrotcichlids.com/parrot-cichlid-tank-setup.asp this one recommended no less than 42 gallons.
http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/376/ This one calls for 55gal being the min size.

Yeah I'm sure it can live in there, doesn't mean it will be happy...

 

[CoreyMac]

I have 3 in my 55planted, and they hide all the time. There isn't any predatory or aggressive fish in there, and I hardly ever see them. Plenty of cover in the tank too....

Add another 10 or so and see what happens.

 

[sheheartsfish]

Not all Blood Parrots reach 10", if mine reaches over 10" then I will move her into a bigger tank.
I asked on a different forum, full of people with large cichlids, and they all said 40 Gallon Breeder was fine for one.

On the second link, it said:
"I recommend no less than 42 gallons (36Lx18Hx15W) for 2-3 parrots. Anything smaller just will not do for an adult Parrot Cichlid."
Mine is 36Lx18Wx16H, just 2 inches shorter, but also 3 inches wider.
So not that big of a difference really. I would rather have the 3" width, rather then 2" extra of height.
If she reaches 10 inches, she has 18 inches to turn around in when she swims, and 3 feet of swimming room.