Question about rummynose tetras....

[G_Sharky]

I just got 6 rummynose tetras today to add on my current 6 so I have 12 in total now.... My question is are they suppose to shoal or school better when they are in a larger group or smaller, cause I noticed that when I had only 6 they were all inseperable. Now that i have 12 some seems to wonder off from time to time and have their own little crew of 2-3 and is wondering off without the rest... Is this normal or is it because the new group is still trying to get use of the new environment

 

[Stryker]

Now you have more of them they probably feel much more comfortable hence dont feel the need to shoal

 

[ryan]

Shoaling is a defense mechanism that helps smaller fish to aviod predators. It works best in larger open waters with low fish densities, this is when they will shoal at their tightest. If the water has a high density of fish they won't shoal as often as it will not be to their benefit, shoaling in a heavily stocked tank won't help them aviod predators. So by introducing more fish you increased the stocking levels which means they're defense stratergy isn't as affective, therefore they don't shoal as tightly.

 

[G_Sharky]

Thanks guys.... so the less fish that's in their surrounding the more they would stick together....I thought it would be the opposite.... . Anyways all my rummy's are schooling together right now except for one which is stuck between the glass and the filter tube....it's dead.... . Do you guys think he/she died because he was sick or just bad stock... because the guy who bag my fish in my LFS is new and he didn't put a lot of oxygen on my bag and he actually hand pick my fish while on the net and transferring it to the bag... I wasn't pleased when I was watching him but I calm myself down and gave the guy a break since he's new.....

 

[G_Sharky]

Okay I just saw one died right now......that's 2....I'm really ticked off now...

 

[jaywings19]

From what I've read and heard... rummynose tetras (and most small tetras for that matter) are very delicate. Therefore, you may not have done a long enough introduction period... or the water in your tank could be quite different than the store tank water, etc. I bought shoal of rummynose last weekend and lost a couple within the first 24 hours... the rest of them are doing quite well.

 

[G_Sharky]

Actually i floated the bag in my tank for about 20 mins then i add some aquaplus(dechlorinator, and stresscoat) and fish the net out of the bag. I did this with my first group of rummy's and they were all fine and thriving now.... I've been doing this with all my fish and never loss any before... I guess it was just bad luck.... . I just hope that they are not sick cause I don't and can't have a quarantine tank....

 

[SirMinion]

We're on our second shoal of rummies now. Of the first six, all but one died within a week because the tank, although cycled, wasn't mature enough. We left it a couple of months with the remaining rummy shoaling with the neons before getting five more. They were doing well until we missed feeding our dragon puffers on time...

Now we're down to four again.. and they've been moved out of the dragon tank.

 

[ryan]

I have found Rummy Nosed Tetras cope very badly with moving and high levels of stress. Its alwats best for them to be bagged with plenty of oxygen and kept in the dark an then adjusted to the tank water and added. Is the lfs water parameters the same as yours? Did you adjust the fish to the water?

 

[jaywings19]

Actually i floated the bag in my tank for about 20 mins then i add some aquaplus(dechlorinator, and stresscoat) and fish the net out of the bag. I did this with my first group of rummy's and they were all fine and thriving now.... I've been doing this with all my fish and never loss any before... I guess it was just bad luck.... . I just hope that they are not sick cause I don't and can't have a quarantine tank....

You may have just been lucky with the first group of rummys. Besides floating the bag for 20 minutes to equalize the temperature... you should then slowly add tank water to the fish bag to equalize the pH and other water qualities. I usually do this for my fish:

1. Open the bag and fold down the top of the bag to create an air pocket
2. Float the bag for 15 minutes
3. Add 1/2 cup of tank water to the bag every 10 minutes (until the bag is near full)
4. Discard 1/2 of the bag water (for delicate fish only)
5. Repeat step #3 (for delicate fish only)
6. Net fish and release into tank

I know it seems like a lot, but it's worth it.

 

[Bangin]

Yes, like jaywings19 said, you probably didn't acclimate the fish to your water properly. You must slowly add your tank water to their existing water.

I bought ten rummynose tetras, and I still have those same ten in my tank.