My Black Widow Tetra Is Getting Bullied!

[gordz]

Hi,

I have a black widow tetra, and it's always getting bullied by my gourami and american flag fish. Both of them never bother any of my little tetras because they usually get into a little shoal and try and bully them back!

So anyway, recently it's been bullied more than before and is starting to lose it's colour and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for what to do? Would buying another black widow tetra help? Or a more aggressive fish to keep the gourami and flag fish in order?

Any suggestions much appreciated

Thank you,

Gordon.

 

[gordz]

Anyone???

Sorry if this has been mentioned before but I've searched and searched and searched and still can't quite find the answers I'm looking for!

Please somebody help me!

 

[Lestat999]

I would put another 3 or 4 in there with it (provided you have adequate filtration?)

 

[gordz]

My filtration is very good, an un-branded filter but is best one I've ever had!

Just been to get two more black widow tetras, and straight away they've formed a mini shoal with my other black widow, even though it's twice their size! American Flag Fish and Gourami aren't bothering him anymore.... at the moment anyway!

While I was there also got a Otocinclus Catfish (I think everyone calls them Ottos?) and it's been fantastic already in eating the algae, and all the other fish don't seem to even know or care it's there!!! This should hopefully be my final set up now for my aquarium, (although lady in shop recommended I should have atleast 2 otto's, so may just be one more fish upon the horizon)!

At least the Black Widow tetra is happy now, surprised no one else has had this problem with black widow tetras..... or maybe no one is as stupid as me to just buy one when they're sharing a tank with another two fairly aggressive fish!

 

[GSD]

All tetras need to be in shoals of 5 or more really, in the wild they use it for protection but in tanks it seems to make them alot more social and happier, just keep an eye all 3 dont get bullied.

Ottos are excellent algae eaters, but make sure you supliment its feeding with algae wafers or something similar, ive heard many stories of them starving from lack of algae to eat.

 

[gordz]

All tetras need to be in shoals of 5 or more really, in the wild they use it for protection but in tanks it seems to make them alot more social and happier, just keep an eye all 3 dont get bullied.

Ottos are excellent algae eaters, but make sure you supliment its feeding with algae wafers or something similar, ive heard many stories of them starving from lack of algae to eat.

Well they've had a full 24hours together now and my original black widow tetra has all it's colour back in him and is swimming around happily now with it's two new friends, and not hiding away and not getting bullied!

Ha, I don't think my otto will be hungry for a while, I've a lot of algae! I don't have algae wafers, but have been told that cucumber is just as good? He wasn't bothered by the fish flakes this morning even though they sank to bottom where he was. So my guess is he's fine with my algae on actual tank!

Cheers for the good advice!