Problem With Neon Tetras

[n3ont3tra]

I recently set up a freshwater tank, got plants, everything was ready... then we decided to get fish. We got 5 neon tetras and 2 black phantom tetras. We will soon get more, we just wanted to make sure they would live. The neons were shoaling and the phantoms stayed together the first day. Now it's the second day and the neons are chasing each other, and not staying together. The phantoms are staying with each other like before, but all of the tetras are chasing each other, and only shoaling when I put my hand in the water. Is that normal? I've had tetras before and never saw anythng like this. They are actually biting each other, it looks like.

Oh, and it's a 30 gallon tank.

 

[justandy333]

If there chasing eachother around id say that there under stress for some reason.Neon tetras are not usually agressive towards eachother.
How recent did you put them in the tank? If you put them in too quick before the filter is established you could have caused an ammonia spike putting them under stress. Water temperature could be a problem causing them undue stress.
If those 2 conditions are good then it could just be they need to settle in to their new surroundings.
Hope this has helped
Feel free to dismiss this advice, but ive kept tetras successfully for 2 years. They can act up from time to time but this is usually due to them being under stress for one reason or another.
If they are new to the aquarium they just need time to settle in.

 

[millym]

hi
did you cycle your tank before adding fish?? what are your ammonia,nitrite & nitrate etc levels??? if all this is fine then im sure your fish are fine.
neons & many other small tetras tend to shoal only when they feel scared. we used to have 14 neons & now have cardinals & rummy nose tetras. we've found with all the small tetras we've kept that once they settle in they tend to wander off & find their own little 'territory' in the tank. this they will defend by having little scraps where they flick back & forth at eachother if an intruder encroaches!!!!!!! our rummys & cardinals spend all day in their own little patch & then at lights out time will gather together in a little shoal. if your neons are pottering off on their own it means they feel secure & are comfortable.
when we had neons we found they would often have little scraps just like the rummys & cardinals we have now - a sort of flicking back & forth at eachother like i described. we never saw any evidence of actual harm...........can you see any damage from this behaviour??? if not im sure its just normal.

 

[Griz]

Although we often then of species like tetras as all getting along in a happy little group, they do establish a pecking order. That could be what is happening. It's unlikely that they will seriously injure each other and they should sort things out.