Is This Normal?

[silver tipped]

I have 7 silver tipped tetra's. All appears to be fine but there behaviour has suddenly gone very eratic. 2 of the fish are harrassing the other 5, constantly chasing them around the tank and backing them into corners. I am pretty sure that these are males and that this is mating behaviour but as i'm new to this it could be anything. Once the female has been cornered she released what looked like tiny eggs (small, white and opaque), immediatly all the other fish ate them. Is this breeding behaviour and if so what can I do to ensure survival of at least some of the eggs?

 

[annka5]

It does sound very much like breeding behaviour given the eggs - saving some of them would be easiest if you used breeding mops and a separate tank.
Am no expert on silver tipped tetra, but perhaps you could ask in the carachin etc section.

 

[Anita]

Hi
Sounding like mating behaviour to me they go nuts don't they Male chase off smaller males, they all chase females whenever they have chance and at the end of the day the eggs get eaten

If you have a planted tank maybe some of the eggs fall down out the way, but the chances are the babies would get gobbled up by other fish anyhow.

If you would like to breed them get a seperate tank and cover the bottom with some mesh so that the eggs fall through it and the fish can't get to them

Anita...

 

[silver tipped]

Thanks for the advice. I've only had the fish just under a week so I must be doing something right. The tank is planted so I will look out for any stray eggs. How long does this behaviour go on for? Is there a cycle so to speak?