NonstickRon
Fish Crazy
So my work tank (6.75 gal bowfront) is fully cycled now (yay!) and it has 3 albino corys and 4 serpae tetra. The serpae pick on the corys a little bit, the smallest one especially is missing about 1/3rd of his dorsal fin at this point. I've two adults and one juvinile. I'm already over stocked, I'm aware of that. Which is why the usual remedy for aggressive Serpae, adding more to the school, is something I'm very hesitant to do. This is the bioload that I cycled the tank with (3 weeks - used Tetra Safestart to jumpstart and then Prime to detoxify till ammonia and nitrite hit 0).
Aside from the usuall undersized shoal aggression behavior, my serpae have developed some other oddities. For one they stay near the bottom of the tank, never usually going higher than midway in the tank when the light is on. I'm attributing that to not having any tank deco that goes higher than that level right now. There is plenty of low to mid level cover at this point, between a plastic hollow log, fake plants attatched to that, and a peice of real drift wood. I'm thinking of adding a plant or two. Also, each serpae has staked out a 'territory' in the tank. One in each corner. They seldom school. Thats what I find to be the oddest thing about the way they behave.
Do you think adding more plants that go all the way to the top will help? Do you think adding another serpae or two will help? Or will that just add more bullies?
I'm about ready to throw in the towel on the Serpae tetra. I love how much personality they have, so I'd rather not...but I really don't like to see them bullying fish that aren't interested in fighting back.
Edit: Interestingly enough, I never SEE them going for the corys, seems to happen when I'm not here. Light in the tank is only on when I'm here.
Aside from the usuall undersized shoal aggression behavior, my serpae have developed some other oddities. For one they stay near the bottom of the tank, never usually going higher than midway in the tank when the light is on. I'm attributing that to not having any tank deco that goes higher than that level right now. There is plenty of low to mid level cover at this point, between a plastic hollow log, fake plants attatched to that, and a peice of real drift wood. I'm thinking of adding a plant or two. Also, each serpae has staked out a 'territory' in the tank. One in each corner. They seldom school. Thats what I find to be the oddest thing about the way they behave.
Do you think adding more plants that go all the way to the top will help? Do you think adding another serpae or two will help? Or will that just add more bullies?
I'm about ready to throw in the towel on the Serpae tetra. I love how much personality they have, so I'd rather not...but I really don't like to see them bullying fish that aren't interested in fighting back.
Edit: Interestingly enough, I never SEE them going for the corys, seems to happen when I'm not here. Light in the tank is only on when I'm here.