Aggressive/territorial Emperor Tetra

[alihar]

I have a dilemma on my hands!
I bought 3 black emperor tetra 3 weeks ago, 1 male 2 female.
My thinking behind the purchase was to initially get a trio to see how they blend into my peaceful community set up and then add 3 more.
I had researched the fish before purchase and knew males could be a little aggressive and territorial but all in all a peaceful community fish.
Well the make hasn't let me down!
He has decided that the right hand side of the tank is his domain, initially he only chased the emperor females away but now he is chasing the cherry barbs, cardinals and dwarf rainbowfish.
I've tried moving decor around and that hasn't helped.
I'm unable to put him in solitary confinement for a time out as my hospital tank is home to some 2 week old platy fry.
I can't add more emperor at the minute as I rehomed my friends cardinal tetras last week so I'm up to full capacity.
Do I take him back to the shop and swap him or do I perceiver until I am able to try isolating him or add more emperors?
He is only around 3 cm at the minute so is still a juvenile but I'm wondering if his behaviour will get worse as he grows.
Any suggestions welcomed
Alison

 

[Wills]

Hi the problem is that there are not enough Emperor Tetras - Tetras are a shoaling fish so genders are not really crucial but more males than females is preferable. Up the numbers more - if your having issues go for around 10 and he will start jostling and displaying to the other males to become head honcho of the school.

In the wild these fish will be founds in schools of 100's so they will constantly flare and race each other around to get to the top of the school for breeding and feeding purposes. Trios are not really a good way to replicate this.

Wills

 

[minnnt]

Buy the other 3 you mentioned and see if it improves. I was talking to someone in my LFS regarding stocking one of my tanks and his advice was the same as Andy's above. Males spend more time showing off to each other which enhances your pleasure as their colours are enhanced 10 fold.

 

[alihar]

Thanks for the quick response Wills.
I knew 3 would not be a good number to start with but as I'd never kept them before I thought try 3 then add more.
I really like these guys and the male in question is stunning even tho he's still quite young.
I'll have to do some rehoming of other fish to be able to add more.
The staff in the LFS always say shoaling fish are fine in trios and even tho I know they are truly not I thought I'd try and see.
Alison

Thanks minnnt
I'll do some rehoming and try another 3, if I hadn't taken my friend cardinals it wouldn't have been a problem but I'm a little wary of pushing my stocking to the limit and maybe beyond.
Alison

 

[minnnt]

You may have to remove the troublesome male until the new ones have settled in for an hour or two so he doesn't try it on with them as soon as they are added. My personal choice would be to take the Emperors back and add to the Cardinals though i must say. lol.

 

[alihar]

I do love cardinals and I already have 10 so was wanting something I'd never kept before.
A happy peaceful tank is my main aim so I'll work towards building up the amount of emperors and see how I go.
Thank you both for your input.
Alison

 

[minnnt]

No probs.

Red eye tetras are great, really like mine and they shoal great.

 

[alihar]

Well I've upped the numbers to 6.
4 female 2 male
I put the aggressor in a breeding net before introducing the newbees and released him at lights out.
First day there was a lot of displaying then it went back to chasing.
All the others seem quite chilled but this male is constantly patrolling the tank looking for a victim!
Any thoughts?
Alison