Whiteskirt Tetras (violent)

[Tetras_Rule33]

My whiteskirted tetras, or the more familliar fish, blackskirted tetras, are in my tank. I have had them for seven months now and everything was going fine until almost a month and a half ago. The bigger one chases the smaller one a lot and nips him. The other one is actually scared of it. None of the neons in the tank get nipped at, just Cleatus (smaller white skirt). Why is this happening? Is it because its how those kind of fish act?

 

[Roan Art]

Tetras are schooling fish and need to be in school of six or more. That's why he's picking on the little one.

Your tank is only 10g and not big enough for a school of skirts. IMO take them back and add to the neon school. The more fish in a school, the better.

Roan

 

[Leopardess]

Mhm, it's because there are only two of them. One is dominant and one is submissive. The latter gets beaten up by the former.

Plus, that size tank is just too small for them. The ones I have in my 55g (the long fin variety) are quite large, ~3" and are well behaved when kept in a school of at least 6 or so.

Since you are attached to them (I assume, they are named after all) and you've had them for awhile, would you consider getting them another tank of their own? Maybe a 20g or something?

Sadly, I don't really see an end in sight, now that they are more mature, if it's just the two of them in cramped quarters.

 

[rrkss]

I have a school of 6 of them in one of my tanks. They are rather docile though every now and then you see the alpha and beta males duking it out. Like most schooling fish, they do have a pecking order that they will fight to maintain.