Serpae Tetras - How Do I Stop The Fin Nipping?

[xxshatteredsoul]

My Serpae Tetras fins all look terrible because they are always going after each other nipping their fins. I have 4 of them and they always seem to be swimming togeather but go after each other all the time. I really would like to know what I can do if their fins will grow back if they stop going after each other or am I just stuck with these over agresive fin nippers? I am not sure if they are males or females. They have killed other fish in the tank already attacking them but currently they are the smallest fish in the tank so I haven't had that problem again. I am not sure if I should get rid of them or not. Suggestions anyone?

 

[SharonCC]

I'd suggest rehoming the Pleco, and increasing the school of tetras. They need to be in a larger school.....

 

[fozziebear]

how big is the plec, if stocking allows it, id increase to a group of atleast 6 or more that will damp the agression right down, they are only picking on eachother because the group isnt big enough.

 

[xxshatteredsoul]

I'd suggest rehoming the Pleco, and increasing the school of tetras. They need to be in a larger school.....

What does rehoming the pleco mean?

What would be the max ammount of these guys I should put in here? I am willing to go buy some more I just don't know how many?

The pleco is very small. I'd say maybe 4 inches?

 

[SharonCC]

By rehoming I meant to find it a bigger tank. If you keep the pleco, he'll take up a lot of room, and you may not be able to increase the tetras enough to curb the aggression. What kind of Pleco is it...I thought I read that your tank is 20 gal. but I can't see that now...I must be losing it!!! AW...just found it...ignore my rambling!!!

 

[xxshatteredsoul]

my tank is too small for the fish I have in there? and how many serpaes should I get?

 

[aaronnorth]

sually a minimum of 6 - 8 is reccomended

 

[Corleone]

6 is a good number for any schooling fish. More's better for nippers, to diffuse aggression more.

The tank's fine for the fish you have except for the pleco - unless it's a bristlenose or similar species, it'll get upwards of 12-18 inches and vastly outgrow any 20 gallon tank. Also, corys prefer to be in groups. They'll be far more active in a group of 5+, though with 6 serpae's, that may be pushing stocking.

 

[aaronnorth]

if you got rid of the gourami & plec, then you could get 6 serpaes & 4 albinos in

 

[xxshatteredsoul]

My pleco is the small one idk what it's called off hand. So if I get 6-8 serpaes that should calm down the fin nipping?

Also will their fins grow back and not be so ragidy looking?

One last question I should get more corys then? I think mine is pretty lonely he just sits around most of the day lately.

I know I want to upgrade to a bigger tank i'm not sure what a decent size would be and how much it would cost me.

 

[Corleone]

By small one do you mean small species, or was it sold as "small pleco"? Small plecos become big plecos.

The fins will recover, but serpaes are nippy and you might always have a few tears here and there. If they're long finned variants (are there long finned serpae tetras?), then they'll always be a bit ragged.

It would definitely be worth getting more corys. The more you have, the more active they tend to be. A good tank upgrade might be a 29 gallon - room for a good community, but not too big to be unmanageable.

 

[aaronnorth]

what specie is the plec? Or can you post a pic up?

 

[xxshatteredsoul]

I am not sure let me go take pictures of them real quick i'll report back to this post in a few minutes with the pictures.

 

[xxshatteredsoul]

If the picture is too small let me know I just shrink it so it wouldnt get to big on this forum page.

Here is a picture of the 4 serpae's

 

[aaronnorth]

it is a bit small but i zoomed in and it looks like a common or a gibbiceps (hard to tell without seeing the erect fin) which get about 2ft. Check to se if it has bristles next to its gills, if it does then it is a bristlenose which get to about 6".