humBill
June 10th 05, 07:24 AM
Hi all
I have had some Buenos Aires Tetras for about 9 months now. I originally
had 3 with 3 small cories. Then I read they preferred larger groups. So I
bought 3 more - fairly light load for a 29 gallon tank. For quite a while
everything seemed hunky dory. Frequently I would enjoy watching them
shoaling around typically behind the lead of one of the 3 larger fish.
After about 5 or 6 months I noticed them shoaling less, but still
occasionally, and instead seemingly becoming a bit territorial. The norm
became the dominant fish would stare out one end of the tank and run off
anyone who came into his half. This was quite frequent so I assumed to some
degree it was just playing. Another of the largest staked out an opposite
corner, with similar territorial behaviour - but just a small radius. One
of the remaining fish had a tendency to hangout below the filter output and
the remaining 3 would just kind of mill around, occasionally 'nipping' at
each other when they werent being chased, but not frequently. Then about
a month ago I found the largest one who didnt have an 'area', with a big
chunk out of his belly - obviously nibbled on considerably after an intial
attack?. This may have been the one who had taken to hiding in a decorative
trunk - I did not notice any physical problems till its death, though it
could have gone unnoticed. In the last couple of days I have discovered
the Tetra who was previously claiming one corner is now hiding in the trunk
and the top half of its tail fin is missing. So I am assuming the alpha
Tetra is slowly knocking off any challenge to its dominance, even though it
usually seems content staying in his half alone.
My questions-
Is this type of behaviour at all typical of Buenos Aires, particularly in
regards to going from communal to territorial?
Is there something I can do to alter the 'atmosphere'?
What do I do about the injured fish? It doesnt seem to be eating,
possibly partially because it is cowering/hiding and I suspect it is much
less mobile missing half its tailfin. Because I wasnt watching closely the
first one may have gone through the same scenerio - injury, cowering, death
then being eaten on. I could (reluctantly) move it but dont have any good
choice. I have two fancy goldfish tanks with some 'growing' room. I have a
15 gal tank which seems pretty happy with 3 neons, 3 yellow tetras and 3
gold skirts. And I have 2 10 gal guppy tanks pretty much 'full' -one with
adults and one with 'salable size' babies.
I used to love the Buenos Aires tank but it has become so unharmonious I
am tempted to trade them all in on something else - but still not sure what
to do with the injured one. With this pattern I may just end up with one
unhappy bully anyway.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bill Brister
I have had some Buenos Aires Tetras for about 9 months now. I originally
had 3 with 3 small cories. Then I read they preferred larger groups. So I
bought 3 more - fairly light load for a 29 gallon tank. For quite a while
everything seemed hunky dory. Frequently I would enjoy watching them
shoaling around typically behind the lead of one of the 3 larger fish.
After about 5 or 6 months I noticed them shoaling less, but still
occasionally, and instead seemingly becoming a bit territorial. The norm
became the dominant fish would stare out one end of the tank and run off
anyone who came into his half. This was quite frequent so I assumed to some
degree it was just playing. Another of the largest staked out an opposite
corner, with similar territorial behaviour - but just a small radius. One
of the remaining fish had a tendency to hangout below the filter output and
the remaining 3 would just kind of mill around, occasionally 'nipping' at
each other when they werent being chased, but not frequently. Then about
a month ago I found the largest one who didnt have an 'area', with a big
chunk out of his belly - obviously nibbled on considerably after an intial
attack?. This may have been the one who had taken to hiding in a decorative
trunk - I did not notice any physical problems till its death, though it
could have gone unnoticed. In the last couple of days I have discovered
the Tetra who was previously claiming one corner is now hiding in the trunk
and the top half of its tail fin is missing. So I am assuming the alpha
Tetra is slowly knocking off any challenge to its dominance, even though it
usually seems content staying in his half alone.
My questions-
Is this type of behaviour at all typical of Buenos Aires, particularly in
regards to going from communal to territorial?
Is there something I can do to alter the 'atmosphere'?
What do I do about the injured fish? It doesnt seem to be eating,
possibly partially because it is cowering/hiding and I suspect it is much
less mobile missing half its tailfin. Because I wasnt watching closely the
first one may have gone through the same scenerio - injury, cowering, death
then being eaten on. I could (reluctantly) move it but dont have any good
choice. I have two fancy goldfish tanks with some 'growing' room. I have a
15 gal tank which seems pretty happy with 3 neons, 3 yellow tetras and 3
gold skirts. And I have 2 10 gal guppy tanks pretty much 'full' -one with
adults and one with 'salable size' babies.
I used to love the Buenos Aires tank but it has become so unharmonious I
am tempted to trade them all in on something else - but still not sure what
to do with the injured one. With this pattern I may just end up with one
unhappy bully anyway.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bill Brister