neon tetras fin nipping, tails getting bitten

[BLASK]

just introduced 8 neon tetras to my 20gal tank that has been cycling for about a month - do they create a pecking order cuz they are bitting some fins of others??? just small bites, i fed them they were hungry

thanks

 

[WILDER]

Neon tetra's really need a mature tank of 6 months, they do suabble now and again but usually nothing serious, can you post test result in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

 

[BLASK]

am - 0
nit - 0
nate - 5
ph - 7.4
temp - 78% F

 

[WILDER]

Your test are good, maybe add two teaspoons of salt to the tank, if they are fin nipping, they should settle into a happy group soon.

 

[BLASK]

i added two teaspoons, the thing is that when i first put them in, they were exploring the tank together all 8 as a school, now i see groups of 3 just swimming and hiding and some are fighting back and forth with each other it seems.

also the tail fin of neon tetras is two endings that go up and down, well two of them have the bottom half bitten off?? they were all fine when i got them.

I just really wanted to get some fish to cycle the tank, maybe 8 neons were a bad idea?

 

[BLASK]

one more

 

[endilliteracy]

Neons aren't a very good fish to cycle a tank with. They may seem inexpensive and the way to go since they don't cost much, but they really need a mature tank.

 

[BLASK]

well i can return them and get something else, on my other 20gal (running since nov 24) has 7 platies, 2 albino cory cats, and 2 khuli loaches. i was going to get platies again to cycle this newer 20gal but i didnt want the same fish again, so other than platies and swordtails - what are good cyclers, i was looking for maybe 2 $5 fish?

thanks in advance

 

[Jason213]

A really good starter fish are any of the Danio species, depending on where you live, you may be able to purchase the newly genetically engineered glow danios.
Start off with a dozen or less

 

[WILDER]

Why didn't you say you were cycling the tank, really bad choice to go with who recommened them if lfs wouldn't go there again, usually you are not meant to add neon tetra's to the tank to it at least 6 months old, this could be way they are picking at each other.

 

[BLASK]

after 3 days of neon fights i decided to move them to my other 20gal tank that is running for 3 months (i guess 3months with fish is better than 1month w/o fish)

the other fishes in this tank are:

7 platies (2male tux, 5female tux) 1inch each
2 albino cory cats 1inch each
2 khuli loaches 2inches each

and now the 8 neon tetras which stoped fighting and look to be swimming peacfully, i will see how long this lasts

now for the alone 20gal, there is a lone platy fry baby about 3 months old, she will be fine in there by herself? i was going to put a stocking over the filter intake but i decided against it since the holes are now smaller than the fry (a diff story a month ago)

my question is for my 3mon 20gal tank, it looks like i am at max occupancy or a bit over? let me know guys i always heard 1inch of full grown adults per gallon, so i can have 20inches of fish excluding tail fin? looks like im right on the dot since neons arent even a full inch.