Black Phantom Tetra weird behaviour

[sallyavory]

Hi, Does anyone know why my three new Black Phantom tetra spend all their time with their backs to each other, staring out of the tank? I bought them three days ago, and in the shop they were in a large group and all very lively. My other fish are: 1 guppy, 2 zebra danios, and four little blue neons, and the BiOrb that they are in has been fine for all the fish for about 5 months now (although one guppy died the day after the new Phantoms arrived) I partly changed the water after the death. The water test says all is well, so is it just a behaviour thing?

 

[Phantom Thief]

Are your Black Phantoms very new?

If so, let them settle down I doubt you could relax if suddenly you were put in a bag and then released somewhere new, right? Give 'em time, they'll be fine.

P.T.

 

[Cian McLiam]

Hi sallyavory,

Black Phantoms need to be in groups of 6 or more, or they wont feel secure. They do better in groups because its their innate defence strategy, 10 pairs of eyes is better than two, and in a group its hard for a predator to lock on to one target.

When you keep them in small groups they become insecure, what you are seeing is a strategy to defend themselves, when there are only a few of them they take positions and keep watch, they will not make much movement becuase that will leave them open targets. Think of a small group of soldiers abandoned in the middle of a field, because there are only a few of them, they take defensive positions in each direction. Its a big bad world when you are a tetra and being outside of a shoal makes them feel very exposed. Add at least another three or four fish and they will act more like a bunch of holligans like mine do. Its fun to watch their mock battles too!

Ken

 

[clutterydrawer]

Its a big bad world when you are a tetra

 

[sallyavory]

Thanks for info, but how can I add more without overloading the cycle? Unforunately one phantom died yesterday, on the bottom, just went suddenly. The other two continue to guard their areas. The water is as follows, 0 nitrite and 25 nitrate-I'm a beginner, so is this about right?
Sally

 

[Phantom Thief]

Do you have an ammonia measurement? Ammonia is a new tanks worst enemy.

P.T.

 

[nirvanarama]

i would reckon that they are just settling in.

WAYHAY!! someone with a biorb! theyve been getting loads of jip on here