Aggressive Glo fish

FluffehWolf

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Hi everybody, I’m fairly new to properly managing freshwater fish/aquariums. I recently purchased a 60 gallon with 4 very young bala sharks (I’m aware they are going to need around 180 gal when they fully grow, this is temporary for them!) I decided to get a 4 glo fish to add to the tank because they seemed peaceful and were also schooling fish. (2 normal tetras and 2 longfin tetras) They did fine the 1st week I had them and even schooled with each other. I decided it was time for a 25% water change and to vacuum the gravel. A few hours later the glo fish started getting extremely aggressive towards each other (chasing, nipping, body thrashing on each other etc. - They do not bother the bala sharks at all ) I’ve read on a few sites that they do best in a group of 6+ but I’m fearful if I get more the problem will still persist and then be bigger as a similar post I read had the same issue. I’m really not sure what I did wrong here? As I said in the beginning I’m fairly new to all of this and I just want my darling fish to have the best habitat/care as possible! They don’t have many decorations/fake plants because I wanted to keep the tank spacious for the balas as well.
 
Here’s a picture of my tank, I currently have 2 of the glo fish isolated in a 10 gallon to ensure little fighting as possible as they aren’t being as aggressive when separated
 

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It is true that the larger.the group the less aggressive they will be. Before I knew that they were schooling I bought one large bright pink glofish tetra and he was an absolute turd. He was aggressive toward my angelfish three times his size and anything smaller.
 
I have had glow tetras in the past but not seen this behavior. Currently have neon, ember and red eye tetras, have not seen this behavior with them. The red eye tetras have done mating dances but none have attacked. They do like lots of live plants it makes them feel less stressed. Your tank looks nice but may have too much open space. Adding more leafy plants may help. Floating live plants can help reduce the brightness. Tetras are from South American jungles and have a darker environment.
 
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Thank you I’ll give it a try :) I definitely wanted to add some live plants at some point and I don’t keep the light on them 24/7. I like to try to condition them to a natural daytime/nighttime routine as they would experience in the wild.
 
Thank you I’ll give it a try :) I definitely wanted to add some live plants at some point and I don’t keep the light on them 24/7. I like to try to condition them to a natural daytime/nighttime routine as they would experience in the wild.
Yes fish need about 13 hours or darkness every day. Fish dont have eyelids so they need darkness to sleep. If the light is left on it will stress them out and make them more prone to disease. If you ever have to leave for a day or two it's by far better to leave the light off than on
 
Thanks for the extra info! I’m glad I was stepping in the correct direction for their proper care :) petco wasn’t very informative or helpful when I asked about their care :( I learned most of what I know from sites like this one.
 
Are all the glofish the same species? You said you have 2 normal and 2 long finned. Shoaling fish need at least 6 of the same species, and with nippy species, at least 10. If yours are not all the same species, that's a lot of fish!

Fish need a period of total darkness in every 24 hours. The lights should turn on at the same time every day and stay on for the same length of time. The easiest way to do this is with a timer. And the room should be lit (daylight or room light) for an hour before the tank lights turn on and an hour after they turn off. This is because it takes fishes eyes a longer time than ours to adjust to changes in light levels and having daylight/electric light in the room acts as a sort of dawn and dusk to allow them to adjust..
 
Yes I have 2 normal tetras and 2 longfin. Petco told me the only reason they were separated was to tell the fin difference apart. Slightly upset that they didn’t inform me otherwise and let me take home 4 fish that would become stressed due to this. I asked them originally because it looked like they were separated for another reason like I feared - aggression. :(
 
This is rather a complicated issue, and as you indicate you are new to the hobby, I will take the time to explain it. We are dealing with a totally scientific hobby, meaning that the processes of the natural world are involved, and it is not always easy to understand these at first.

Shoaling fish species, which includes all characins (tetras, hatchetfish, pencilfish), cyprinids (loaches, barbs, rasboras, danios), rainbowfish, and many "catfish" (corydoras, etc) must be in a group. Many people have a smaller rather than large aquarium so "minimum" numbers are asked for and become somewhat standard. But this is not really being fair to the fish. The more there are in the group, the better, with very few exceptions.

When a shoaling species fish finds itself in less than expected surroundings, as here with only four of them, it will be stressed. The effects of stress on fish are very complicated physiologically, and are often subtle. There may or may not be external signs discernible to us—it can continue for weeks and even months, sometimes up to the point when the fish just suddenly dies. The reasons for this are involved, but to avoid a book length post I will move on but can provide more info if asked.

Short-term stress will cause an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. The fish can only maintain these altered states for a short and finite period of time before they will either adapt or (more often) the stress will become chronic. During this initial stage the fish may look and act relatively normal, but it is depleting energy reserves because of the extra physiological requirements placed upon it. At the chronic stage the hormone cortisol is released, which is responsible for many of the negative health effects associated with stress. It is common in many species for the fish to resort to increased aggressive behaviour as a means of dealing with the frustration stress causes. That is what you are seeing here.

Increasing the group might or might not solve this problem. Once fish are stressed to the point of changing behaviour (for the worse usually) it is not going to return to normal because the damage from the chronic stress cannot be undone. You could try adding another five or six (a group of 9-10 or more is advisable as you have the space) but it may as someone mentioned continue or get worse. Eventually the aggression will likely be directed to other species. Removing the four Glo Tetras might be the best solution. But this is your decision, I can only explain the problem.

While I'm here, there is another problem pending, with the Bala Sharks. This species, Balantiocheilos melanopterus, is obviously not a true "shark," it is a barb. This is thus another shoaling species, and here it is crucial to have more of them right from the start. This is a shoaling species with a pronounced social structure within the group, and it must be maintained in groups of at least five fish. Fewer will result in aggression to the point of death of subordinate fish, and/or aggression toward other species in the tank. When it says "at least," it is always better to have more. However, the tank space is going to become problematical very soon as these fish grow. Fish grow continually, and must have the necessary space throughout. Moving them to the larger tank, which must be 8 feet in length (this fish attains 14 inches, some report up to 16 inches, and it is an active swimmer), within a matter of weeks is crucial for their continued health. It is also not a true community fish, so that's another issue.
 
Thanks for the extra info! I’m glad I was stepping in the correct direction for their proper care :) petco wasn’t very informative or helpful when I asked about their care :( I learned most of what I know from sites like this one.
Most chain fish stores just hire people regardless of experience and knowledge and they VERY RARELY know what they are talking about. I always spend time researching the fish I buy well before I buy them and never believe petsmart or petco people lol
 
The only issue I’m having is the glo fish my friend! My balas have never had a problem :) They are super friendly towards each other and the glo fish. :p Like I stated in my original thread I am aware of the bala situation - This is a super temporary tank for them, they are babies currently.
 
I also research the fish before buying, I have my tetras in a 55 gallon tank. In my opinion 55-60 gallon tanks are the way to go. Large enough to give you freedom to do more things but not so large they take over the room. I also think they are better than smaller tanks for your fish health. So that is one positive in my opinion for your situation. But I have to agree with essjay and byron on your fish selection. I would check with Petco about returning those problem fish. Maybe they will exchange them. I also have purchased fish from them and they have been helpful in the past. There are a lot of fish to choose from but do your research 1st before buying. I made plenty of mistakes when I started this hobby, back then there was no internet or forums like this. I am still learning about having live plants. I understand about the temporary housing of the other fish-hope that works out for you.
 
In defense of your glo fish I had one in the past and they are usually a very peaceful fish. One of the mistake I made was not having at least six but I did have a mix group of tetras and they all got along. That was many years ago and no one told me it was wrong. Currently I am thinking of adding at least 6 to my tank.
 
I also research the fish before buying, I have my tetras in a 55 gallon tank. In my opinion 55-60 gallon tanks are the way to go. Large enough to give you freedom to do more things but not so large they take over the room. I also think they are better than smaller tanks for your fish health. So that is one positive in my opinion for your situation. But I have to agree with essjay and byron on your fish selection. I would check with Petco about returning those problem fish. Maybe they will exchange them. I also have purchased fish from them and they have been helpful in the past. There are a lot of fish to choose from but do your research 1st before buying. I made plenty of mistakes when I started this hobby, back then there was no internet or forums like this. I am still learning about having live plants. I understand about the temporary housing of the other fish-hope that works out for you.
If it has been within 14 days they should let you return them
 

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