Black tetras hiding again

[Durbkat]

I have a long 20 gallon tank with 2 long finned black tetras and 3 black tetras. And the 3 black tetras were in a 10g and almost never came out to swim while the light was on. Now I moved them to the 20g with the 2 long finned black tetras and that was 2 days ago. And I just turned the light on today and now they're hiding just like they were in the 10g. Why is this. I so freaking tired of it, its annoying.

 

[Durbkat]

Don't know why but this website moved my topic. Anyway before it was moved someone wrote that the reason they were hiding is because they feel insure and that all I had to do was add more regular black tetras. And I said that their are 2 long finned black tetras and 3 regular black tetras and I didn't know why they felt insure because their is 5 tetras in their just the 2 long finned tetras have longer finnage thats all. So could someone tell me why this crap is happening?

 

[Griz]

What is the decor of your tank like? This may seem odd, but the more places your fish have to hide out, the more secure they will feel and the more you will see them. Tetras will appreciate lots of plants, even fake ones.

What is the lighting in your tank? Many tetras prefer a lower light situation and will tend to hang out in the darker areas of the tank.

Your tank has the 5 tetras and a plec? That may not be enough activity to keep the tetras from feeling insecure. Five is usually considered the absolute minimum for a schooling fish like yours. In a 20 gal with just the plec, I think a more appropriate number might be 8. Are you planning any additions to your tank?

If you only recently moved them, it may just be a matter of giving them some more time to adjust. It wouldn't hurt to check your water parameters too. I always do this as a first response to anything that seems a bit odd.

 

[cyprinut]

Agree with Griz that they need more hiding places. Black tetras are a little skittish in open water. More plants to swim though and hide behind will help. Also agree that a bigger school will help. I'd trade in the pleco, because he'll outgrow that tank quick, but that's your call. Another nice fish that would look good with those blacks is the lemon tetra. 3 or 4 more blacks and half a dozen lemons would make a nice tetra tank.

regards,
cyprinut

 

[Durbkat]

Well I was planning on adding one more tetra only because my grandmother is parnoid and won't let me put more than 7 fish in the 20 gallon. How many more black tetras can fit in their? And their are 8 fake plants in their, do I need more plants? And I was going to either put the pleco in a pond, return him to the petstore, or get a bigger tank for when he gets to big for it. Could I put him in a pond? And how many watts do you think I should use for the light?

 

[Durbkat]

Anyone have a suggestion?

 

[Durbkat]

Please hurry I have to get off the internet soon.

 

[Durbkat]

Don't mean to be rude but anytime now I would like a suggestion.

 

[cyprinut]

Stay with low light in the tetra tank. One std. tube lamp would be sufficient. I think that would be 15watts on a 20 high, 30 watts with the longer tube on a 20 long(not sure). How many hours a day is the light on? If they are fairly new to the tank, they could still just be settling in. Patience is the first rule of fishkeeping.

 

[Durbkat]

I keep the light on for about 6 hours a day and the 2 long finned black tetras have been im their for about 4 to 5 weeks one of the 3 regular black tetras has been in their for about 2 weeks and the other 2 regular black tetras have been in their for about 5 days. Do you think adding more plants would be a good idea? And I was going to get 1 more long finned and 1 regular black tetra. The strange thing is the biggest long finned black tetra seems to be the "king" of the tank because he swims around while the other ones hide. Will this stop once I get 2 more tetras and take everyone out and rearrange the plants and add some more so all the fish can claim their own territory?

 

[cyprinut]

Rearranging may help. Not sure if I'd get any more fish just yet. I don't know how densly planted the tank is, but if you have large open areas, especially from the midpoint to the top, some more plants might help, and try to get some tall ones to break up sightlines from one end of the tank to the other. In a fake planted tank I like those really huge thick tall plants that end up flopping over on the surface, providing some top cover too, but they are expensive.

 

[Durbkat]

I just noticed that some of the tetras fins have been nipped. Is this normal since the last two tetras that were put in their are sorta new. Could the nipping order or whatever its called have started over?

 

[Durbkat]

I just noticed that some of the tetras fins have been nipped. Is this normal since the last two tetras that were put in their are sorta new. Could the nipping order or whatever its called have started over?

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Is what I have said aboce normal?