Fin Nipping

[StevenCumming]

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Tank size: 10 gallon
pH: 7.2
ammonia: 0.25ppm
nitrite: 0ppm 
nitrate: 40ppm
kH: n/a
gH: n/a
tank temp: During a 3 day heat wave between 28 - 35 but it is back down at a constant 28 degrees Celcius.

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Fin Nipping on a few of my Serpae tetras, but really badly for one that has lost it's entire caudal fin. About a week ago it lost it's first half, everything was fine and it was growing back slowly, and then today the rest got chewed off but I missed who the culprit was.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
10 gallon, and every second week
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
 
Tank inhabitants:
6 Serpae Tetras
3 Silertip Tetras
1 Bristlenose Catfish

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
New large decoration that I will have to move, and also remove the smaller rocks and things to make more room for the fish to swim.

Exposure to chemicals:
Digital photo (include if possible):
View attachment 72998
 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Steven,
 
 
The issues here are multi-tiered. 
 
First, these fish are each unsuitable for a 10 gallon tank.  At the least, they would need to be in a 20 Gallon long.
 
Second, serpae are quite notorious for their nipping.  Having them properly housed and in larger groups helps to limit their picking on a particular individual.
 
Third, having sufficient cover in the tank to allow for the targeted fish to hide from the others is imperative.  They need plants, wood, decor, something in which to take shelter.
 
 
I hope this helps.

 

[StevenCumming]

Hi,
 
Thanks for your response. I am aware of the causes, but I am after a solution. The obvious one would be to get a bigger aquarium, but what can I do for right now? Would it stress the Serpae too much for it to be put into a floating guppy breeder box? I also have another smaller unused tank, but not really sure how that would help either because again it would just stress them out.
 
Regards,
Steven

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The best thing is to properly house them, because it will just continue to happen.
 
The best thing for the current fish is clean water.  I wouldn't want you to do the breeder net, because I don't think the water in it would be clean enough.
 
A QT would be ideal.

 

[StevenCumming]

What should I stick in the Quarantine tank though, the sick fish? Would it stress it to the point it dies? And also, can I just pump the water from my main tank through the quarantine tank, sort of defeats the purpose of doing it but the fish would be away from the others.
 
Thanks for your help!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Put the sick fish in the QT.  Fill the QT with 50% tank water and 50% fresh from the tap.
 
 
Do daily water changes.  Adding Melafix/Pimafix would be a nice touch.  Or a bit of aquarium salt (just remember to add back the amount of salt that you remove with each water change, not the full amount), but add the salt after its already been dissolved and increase the salinity slowly over the course of several hours.   Further, keep the tank in the dark and out of high traffic areas to help the fish stay calm.

 

[StevenCumming]

Ok thankyou. Would this be much of an improvement, 
 
http/www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-60L-AQUARIUM-FISH-TANK-CURVED-GLASS-COMPLETE-SET-FILTER-PUMP-LIGHT-BLACK-/181107305144?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item2a2ad62ab8&_uhb=1
 
I can't find anything similar with a larger capacity?
 
Thank you so much for your help!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No.  10 Gallons versus 15 Gallons.
 
It would at least allow you to split the fish up, but not really help much.