Neon Tetra Strange Behaviour

[Rueon]

Hello everybody, I hope you are all o.k.

Wilder (you seem like the guardian angel for the whole fish community after reading lots of topics on the web site), anyway this may be of interest to you seeing as you helped a lot with the Guppy Tail problem (Update to that topic shortly).

I have a query and it may be related to the earlier topic I started about Guppy tail deterioration, hopefully we will see.

We have been watching our fish (6 Pentazonas, 6 Neons, 2 Guppies (was 3), 2 Otos, 1 Siamese Fighter), very closely due to a problem a Guppy had as mentioned before.

Tonight we noticed one of the Neon Tetras hanging around our cave (Female, we think - Big Belly). It was getting bossy and started to nip at the Fighter and chasing him away whenever he went near the cave. She also attacked any other Tetras that came near the cave also. Then we noticed a smaller Tetra join up with her to ward off all the other fish from the cave. We have noticed also that one of the Tetras (we definitely think its the lady) has been staying inside the cave during the day (we do not know why). It seems to be hiding in there and then protecting the cave. I did not think they were territorial. These two have been acting very wierd together.

Is this normal behaviour for a Tetra?

BTW, we noticed one of the other Tetras had some damage to his back (it is not NTD or WS or Ich - Too much medication to clear the guppy problem), so it looks like this bully and the smaller Tetra have been bullying quite a bit. Is this the Guppy problem I wonder??? I am still working on this one though.

After watching all the fish like a hawk, everything else in the tank is fine and peaceful, the guppies are boisterous, but don't fight with Fighter and he never bothers any of the other fish, he is really a gent. The Pentazonas just look for food and stay out of the way of everybody, although they are inquisitive little beggars, always nosying around eating the Otos algae wafers and all. BTW, I have not had any problems with my Otos, they love their tank. I think if it is a bad importer (better locally bred) then you have them die quick.

Anyway if anyone has advice about the Tetras would appreciate it.

Many Thanks

Rue.............

 

[WILDER]

Can we take a look at your stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
So the neon is bloated, any signs of the red stripe looking bleached out.
When you say one has a bad back what do you mean, is it bent.

 

[Rueon]

Hi Wilder.

Checked on Sunday afternoon the water conditions.

Ammonia 0 (did not go yellow on iota)
Nitrite 0.25 (Not totally lilac so could be below)
pH 7.6 (approx - between 7.4 and 7.8)
Nitrates (unknown, only 3 test tubes, but last time checked 5mg - last week)

No the Tetra's back was not bent, it had a white look to it just where the small fin is near the tail fin. It looked as if it had had a nibble out of it. He has not lost any colouration anywhere else, he looks very healthy apart from this damage and the stunned manor occasionally.

Thanks

Rue...........

 

[WILDER]

Your nitrite reading isn't 0 that whay you are having problems.
How long has the tank been set up.
Water change.
Increase aeration.

 

[Rueon]

Hi Wilder.

I assumed the Nitrite level if not above 0.5 was o.k. In the test kit it says that if above 0.5 then immediate water change, but below it says nothing.

The tank is due its weekely 20% change tonight (Weds) so it will be done.

Tank has been set up since end of October last year, approx 12weeks.

We have a bubbler for aeration and the filter is too good for the tank really (Fluval 3 Plus - for 64l Tank).

Thanks for the advice I will carry them out tonight.

Your help is really appreciated.

Rue.............

 

[diet]

Hello everybody, I hope you are all o.k.

Wilder (you seem like the guardian angel for the whole fish community after reading lots of topics on the web site), anyway this may be of interest to you seeing as you helped a lot with the Guppy Tail problem (Update to that topic shortly).

I have a query and it may be related to the earlier topic I started about Guppy tail deterioration, hopefully we will see.

We have been watching our fish (6 Pentazonas, 6 Neons, 2 Guppies (was 3), 2 Otos, 1 Siamese Fighter), very closely due to a problem a Guppy had as mentioned before.

Tonight we noticed one of the Neon Tetras hanging around our cave (Female, we think - Big Belly). It was getting bossy and started to nip at the Fighter and chasing him away whenever he went near the cave. She also attacked any other Tetras that came near the cave also. Then we noticed a smaller Tetra join up with her to ward off all the other fish from the cave. We have noticed also that one of the Tetras (we definitely think its the lady) has been staying inside the cave during the day (we do not know why). It seems to be hiding in there and then protecting the cave. I did not think they were territorial. These two have been acting very wierd together.

Is this normal behaviour for a Tetra?

BTW, we noticed one of the other Tetras had some damage to his back (it is not NTD or WS or Ich - Too much medication to clear the guppy problem), so it looks like this bully and the smaller Tetra have been bullying quite a bit. Is this the Guppy problem I wonder??? I am still working on this one though.

After watching all the fish like a hawk, everything else in the tank is fine and peaceful, the guppies are boisterous, but don't fight with Fighter and he never bothers any of the other fish, he is really a gent. The Pentazonas just look for food and stay out of the way of everybody, although they are inquisitive little beggars, always nosying around eating the Otos algae wafers and all. BTW, I have not had any problems with my Otos, they love their tank. I think if it is a bad importer (better locally bred) then you have them die quick.

Anyway if anyone has advice about the Tetras would appreciate it.

Many Thanks

Rue.............

Are neons Protective of possible egg laying grounds or anything like that?? Im not sure but i know someone here will know the answer

 

[WILDER]

To be honest a slight nitrite reading dosn't take long to kill most fish.
The only acceptable reading is 0.

 

[Rueon]

Thanks Wilder and Diet.

Fingers crossed the water change helps and it is all sorted.

Hopefully I can start enjoying having fish soon !!!

Regards

Rue..........

 

[WILDER]

Diet plenty of variety in frozen foods and veg.
Click on feeding.
http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/viruses.shtml
Frozen daphina is a must helps the fish digest there food.

 

[Rueon]

Hello Everyone.

We took our Siamese fighter back to the LFS as he was the cause of the problems to the Guppy tails and Neon strange beghaviour (We lost 4 Neons in a week due to fighter). The Neons must have been rerally scared and stressed out. We think it was the territorial thing as the Betta went in the same areas as the Neons at night.

Beautiful fish the Betta, but not a good mixer with other fancy finned fish, or Neons as we found out.

Many Thanks for your help.

Rue..............