Bleeding Heart is aggressive?

[SeattleGrace]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and after doing a little looking around, I have a question about my Bleeding Heart Tetras I picked up today. I purchased two to add to my tank that currently has two other smaller types of Tetras - 3 Orange Flame, and 3 Rosy Tetras.

One of the Bleeding Hearts is going after the other, and now I noticed that he's going after one of the Rosy Tetras. The other Bleeding Heart is quite content hanging with the Rosy Tetras.

I'm wondering if he's doing this because he's new to the tank? I don't want to keep him in there if that's what he's going to continue to do. The other fish were doing just fine together. Is it maybe because I only picked up two? They're kind of bigger than the other little guys and I didn't want to get too many and have them crowd the others out.

If anyone has any experience with the Bleeding Hearts and could give me some advice, I'd appreciate it. Thank you

 

[bassbonediva]

I've never had bleeding hearts, but I do know that most of the larger tetras tend to be aggressive if not kept in suitably large groups. The general consensus of what a "suitably large group" is tends to be about six or more. That way, their aggression is concentrated more on their own kind than it is on everything else in the tank.

 

[OrangeCones]

I agree with bassbonediva.

You should keep 5 or more of any specific type of schooling fish. With having only two bleeding hearts, the dominant one will pick on the other who will try to fit in another group for protection. That will just cause the bossy one to pick on the group.

If you have room for more bleeding hearts, pick up 3 or 4 more. They will keep to themselves more and no one will boss the others around.

I'd also get a few more of your other tetras to complete their schools.

You don't say how large the tank is, so I don't know what space you have.

Good luck!