Mystery fin Nipper...HELP!

[Jenn.B]

I noticed one of my female mollies laying on the bottom of my tank, upon taking a closer look I realized her tail is borderline shredded. I put her in my breeder net in the tank to let her recover un-bothered, only to notice most of my other fish have nips out of their fins and especially tails.

Tank Info:
29 Bowfront with willow moss
6 Neon Tetras (just added 3) - all have nipped fins
4 Rummynose Tetras - all have nipped fins
1 Male Dalmation Molly - no nipped fins
4 Female Dalmation Mollies - only the one i quarantined has nipped fins
2 Female Platies - no nipped fins
2 Male Platies - no nipped fins
2 Japonica Shrimp (just added)

My hunch is the three new neons are nipping since I've been told they tend to nip fins, however all the neons have nipped fins not just a few. Help please I want to find the culprit and/or fix the problem! In the meantime is there anything I can do the ease/stop the nipping or help heal the nipped fins?

 

[Kiara1125]

My Neons never nipped any fins. My hunch is that the livebearers did it. If you have ALL fish with nipped fins and one that doesn't, well, you have your culprit there.

 

[OrangeCones]

Can you post your readings of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[Jenn.B]

Ammonia: 0 mg/l
Nitrite: 0 mg/l
Nitrate 10 mg/l
I did a water change the day before I received my neons and japonicas (WC: 2/22/12)

 

[Fuzz16]

my money would be on the mollies...but have you thought about fin rot?

 

[Jenn.B]

Yeah I considered it, however none of the edges of the fins are red or any other color, they're just missing pieces. I'm relatively new to this though, and have never encountered fin rot before, so I'm not sure what it is.
And I've never had any problems with the mollies before, they've been in the tank for about 3 months with no problems.

 

[Thyra]

Could the shrimp be the cause? I did find one forum that stated they ate small fish and fry. There is apparently a lot of controversy over whether the japonica shrimp can breed in captivity - if they do, it is supposedly another species of shrimp. Almost anything one looks up you can find opposing opinions. Surprisingly the two fish I have never heard anyone blame for fin nipping are the neon and cardinal tetras. But, naturally, I am still wondering how fish "nip" with no creditable teeth. Sounds to me like it would be far easier for fins to get torn on plastic plants or rough rocks.

 

[Jenn.B]

The shrimp seem to ignore the fish completely. And as for them just snagging their fins, I've had most of the fish for months and never had any problems before, so I'm clueless. I don't think that shrimp eat small fish and fry though, the LFS that I got them from keeps the shrimp in their grow-out/hospital tank, so there's almost always fry in the tank with them.

 

[Dan Steveo]

hmmm its weird because my neons have never nipped before either, i did however have a finrot outbreak one time when my plecos had been fighting, it didnt heal within two days so i bought some melafix and it was AWESOME! It made their fins heal rapidly, within two days they were almost healed completely.

What i would do is get the melafix, and some moon-lighting (or turn off tank lights and put on room lights and see what goes on)
Then keep an eye out, if youre sitting far back enough and dont make any noises, sudden movements or bangs on floor etc, the fish won't know you're there....

What i do is leave the tank alone for about 30-40 mins during feeding time then (i know its sad But...) i sneak into the room and sit about 2-3 metres away and watch, making no vibrations on floor (sneaking haha)

they never know im there and i see them at their best, i see which ones are the bullies, and i see my rare plecs all the time. as soon as i get close enough for them to see... they're gone.

 

[Jenn.B]

I have Melafix, but am cautious to use it because of my shrimp. I don't know if it would harm or even kill them, has anyone had experience or used it with shrimp in the tank?
And thanks for the advice, I'll try to sneak a peek at who's being a bully (if anyone).

 

[Dan Steveo]

Good point, i did not think of shrimp, i dont have any so cannot say, i've not heard of them being hurt either, what does it say on the tub, i have it downstairs so i'l check, it's natural so i was told it wont harm any of my "fish" but my LFS knew i didnt have shrimp.

 

[Dan Steveo]

Ok, just got time to check it, it had a 'peel back' section and it says it is suitable for even the most sensitive of invertebrates etc safe for marine and everything,

You should be fine

 

[Jenn.B]

Ok thanks! I'll treat the tank, now the follow up question to that is, I use a Penguin 150 HOB filter, the "cartridges" have activated carbon inside them, but on the directions for melafix it says to remove the activated carbon, seeing how in order to do that I'd have to remove the filter pads, what should I do?

 

[Kiara1125]

Remove the filter pads for a week, dose daily, then do a 25% water change. After that, you can put it back in.

 

[Jenn.B]

Ok thanks, I'll do that.
I let the molly out of the breeder's net today because she was freaking out trying to get out, and she seems to be doing fine! I'll dose the Melafix for a week to help everyone's fins heal and watch out for a nipper, but hopefully whatever was causing the mystery nipper to nip has resolved and I won't have anymore problems! (I'll update progress and/or problems)
If anyone has anymore advice I'm willing to listen, but thanks for the people who helped, I appreciate it!*BOUNCINGS

 

[djm761]

when I have a fish that's been badly nipped or tore up, I just watch them for awhile to see who they panic around and run from, and that's usually the culprit.

 

[Jenn.B]

She wasn't running from anyone...she was laying on the bottom in the corner, none of the other fish seemed to notice her. I wish I knew the culprit, I still haven't figured it out, however things don't seem to be getting worse, they appear to be getting better actually!

 

[Kiara1125]

I find out a lot of things in my tank by sitting there looking at them for almost an hour. I have nothing better to do, and all the colors and the movement of the fish are so mesmerizing....

 

[Jenn.B]

i've sat there for quite while and not seen anyone in particular chasing or nipping the others...but I agree, it's mesmerizing.

 

[Kiara1125]

Hehe!! I just love the way fish are. Good luck on catching the culprit. *cough* It's the shrimp *cough cough*