Mad Neon Attacks The Rest!

[RobGoldsmith]

Guys

I have 5 neons, but the largest bluer one keeps chasing the others and nipping them, he did it until one died and he has started doing it to the replacement and friends. Their tales look nipped a lot now

What can i do ?

Rob

 

[achase]

What size is your tank? Any other tankmates? What are your readings for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite?

 

[RobGoldsmith]

3-4 Gallon tank i think, theyre alone, nitrite is elevated

 

[achase]

What would elevated mean number wise?
Did you cycle the tank before you added the fish?

 

[RobGoldsmith]

it is over a month in now of having fish, the 0.25mg on my chart

 

[achase]

Do you know what cycling is? I'm not trying to sound rude I'm just trying to figure out your experience level and so on.

My theory about why your fish is acting aggressively is because he is stressed. A 3 - 4 gallon is way to small of a tank for a school of tetras. Additional stress could be caused from the tank not being properly cycled.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

yes, i do know, ive read 100s of sites and got filter start, test kits etc etc

 

[Dylandrewsdad]

+1 toAchase. You should be doing 50% water changes until the tank is fully cycled. Also you should figure out what size tank you really have. A 3-4 gallon tank is not really big enough for anything other then a Betta and maybe some Dwarf Frogs or shrimp.

 

[achase]

Good good! You never really know. I don't know what filter start is but that's ok. What were your readings for ammonia and nitrate?
My only suggestion is to rehome your tetra's as the size of the tank is probably the cause of the aggression.

SideNote:

+1 toAchase.

Yay, I finally got a plus one!!

 

[Dylandrewsdad]

*laughingc LOL to AChase!

 

[RobGoldsmith]

Ok maybe ill put them in the other larger tank
Rob

 

[achase]

I have been patiently waiting for the day when I would get +1!! *bows down to Dylandrewsdad*

Ok maybe ill put them in the other larger tank
Rob

That sounds like a good plan. You have another tank, cool?

 

[Dylandrewsdad]

You're Welcome......(tiping his hat)

 

[ryanoh]

Did you add them all at the same time? I've heard if you have just one long enough that one will be aggressive when you add him to a school.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

yeah same time, its odd as he is really blue while the others are lighter and more greener blue.

I might do a water change, how do I do this so that the tap water bacteria dont kill my friendly bacteria?

Do i boil the tap water and leave it to cool down or can i just add tap water and add my freshstart new aquarium dechlorinate before it goes into the tank?

Thanks again
Rob

 

[achase]

You will need to dechlorinate your water before adding it to the tank and it needs to be the same temperature as your tank (so you don't shock your fish). I don't know what your water quality is like but I have never had to do anything to my tap water besides dechlorinate it. Follow the directions of your dechlorinator (spelling?) because it may need to sit for a bit before adding to the tank while other dechlorinators say you can add it right away (like mine).

Adding new water will not kill your bacteria. You could kill your good bacteria if you change the filter media. You don't need to change it very often until it's like literally falling apart. If it gets really gross but not falling apart then you can rinse it in your OLD tank water.

Do you have any pictures of the tetras? I love pictures!

 

[RobGoldsmith]

Tried to use iphone but they keep coming out as blurs and dont have another cam, iphone cam is so crap!

 

[achase]

No worries.