Black Skirt Tetra Always Hides

[SneakBetta]

I got a black skirt tetra yesterday. He is living with a betta, platy, and gourami. He always stays in the top corner where a long plant reaches too. He never comes out. But yesterday, before I added the betta he was out all the time. Do you think he's scared of the betta?? I don't know what to do if he is. I'm not going to get rid of any of the fish. Now, ever since I added the black tetra, my platy is hiding too. That's very un-usual for my platy. I know he's not scared of the betta. Neither of the fish are getting picked on from any of the other fish. My platy could possibly be stressed because the tank if arranged differently so the betta won't think he's "Boss". I've hade to re-arrange everything before and my platy took it well. He came out right away all the other times. I think it's the betta scaring the fish. HELP!! Do you think it's him??

Ashley

PS I know this is kinda out of order, but oh well.


oh yeah, it's a 6-gallon tank. that's all the fish i will have in it

 

[Dragonslair]

All fish are territorial, and adding a new fish into an established environment does cause some stress. In an established aquarium, everyone has their pecking order, and to add a newbie in this disrupts the cycle. If the betta you've added is very much larger than the occupants, this too will deter the other fish. To them they become food for the larger fish. Just keep a careful eye on things. If everyone is friendly they will emerge otherwise you may need to take a different approach.

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi ashley,

most tetra species are a shoaling fish and can feel very frightened if there is not more of their own kind around - that and moving - he may become a little better after a while when settled in

 

[val]

Platies also prefer to being in a group.

Valerie

 

[SneakBetta]

Man!! I thought I really messed up my tank by adding that Black Skirt Tetra. Now I find out that the platy likes to be in a group. At least my platy doesn't look too bad. He was hiding this morning, now that I've re-arranged the tank, he's out. He and the Gourami B) are the nicest fish. the Black Skirt Tetra is too shy and the betta is too aggressive . But I luv them all

 

[Lipreader]

I had one black skirt tetra for awhile and at first he hides alot behind the plant but then he got used to me and he started to learn when is feeding time and usually he would be the first at the top waiting for me(really cute and I'm so fond of him ). It wasn't 'til later I found out that they like to be in groups but since my tank is not that big, I decide to get just one more and when I brought the new black skirt tetra home, Buster(the other black skirt tetra I had) was excited to have a friend!.

With your problem, give it time and watch them, get to know them and learn about their attitude, if the Bata is a problem, you can buy a small betta tank for your betta and put him in there. I have two betta at my desk right now and I love it because I can watch them while I'm on the computer. I bought this Duel BettaHex. It has two seperate section that way I can have two bettas in same tank. It's small enough to put on your desk or any small space plus it still gives them swimming room(they normally don't need such big tanks to swim in). Both are happy and loving all the attention they get from me . Usually when you combine different fishes, it's a risk that people takes. Some get lucky and some don't.

I hope this helps a bit.

 

[SneakBetta]

My black skirt tetra is now always out and swimming, I guess he was just stressed. My platy still is always hiding now that there is the black skirt tetra. I guess I'll go have to find a platy friend for him.