Skirt Tetra aggression.

[Kkreiser]

I currently have 7 skirt tetra in a 29 gallon. (4 black, 3 white(had 4 but one passed it was one of two that I took in that were about 4yo)) the only thing I can keep with them is 4 Cory, they have killed other tank mates.

The tetra have been getting along for a couple months now. Yesterday I replaced the last of the fake plants with live, and today they will not stop chasing each other. They're ganging up on one in particular and he/she keeps going under anubias leaves or onto the hornwort and freezing until found.

Is it because the tank decor changed? Can I stop it somehow? It's been a solid 30 minutes I've sat by the tank and they have not stopped chasing each other. Lights on or off doesn't matter. I can't tell if any fins are being torn, as they're moving too fast chasing/being chased.

 

[Kkreiser]

Well, I just noticed a bunch of white eggs falling down, and what I thought were my nerite snails eggs, I'm now thinking are tetra eggs. So I'm guessing they're breeding.

 

[dudley]

Congrats on the spawn!

 

[NoodleCats]

Skirts get nippy and territorial when their tank changes, and can be this way with spawning too. It should settle back down in a week or so unless you change their tank layout again.

And a 29 is not enough space for them plus other fish, to keep away if they need to, so that can contribute to aggression. If you wanted another group of fish you'd have to have a longer footprint to avoid the nipping.

Offer lots of places to break up sight lines and places for bullied fish to rest as well.