Clowns + Tetras = Clowns?

[Bill Stock]

I'm currently quarantining some Clowns, Tetras and Yoyos for a couple of
other tanks. I haven't been feeding them much, as they have some Ammonia
issues, despite seeding the filter from another tank. So I go to feed them
today and 5 of the Tetras are missing. I suspect it was the Clowns, as they
were harassing the Tetras when I fed them.

I had planned to move the Tetras and the Clowns to a tank with more Tetras,
but now I'm wondering. Did the Clowns eat the Tetras because they were
hungry from the lack of feeding or are they just as likely to eat them
anyway? I can always move the Tetras to a smaller tank with the Yoyos,
they've always gotten along before.

I suspect there will not be any Tetras to move in two more weeks anyway. :-|

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> I'm currently quarantining some Clowns, Tetras and Yoyos for a couple of
> other tanks. I haven't been feeding them much, as they have some Ammonia
> issues, despite seeding the filter from another tank. So I go to feed them
> today and 5 of the Tetras are missing. I suspect it was the Clowns, as
> they were harassing the Tetras when I fed them.

The mouths of clown loaches are too small to suck in a tetra. If one dies
they'll nibble at it. They may really be starving though. Why not do a few
water changes to bring down the ammonia?

> I had planned to move the Tetras and the Clowns to a tank with more
> Tetras, but now I'm wondering. Did the Clowns eat the Tetras because they
> were hungry from the lack of feeding or are they just as likely to eat
> them anyway? I can always move the Tetras to a smaller tank with the
> Yoyos, they've always gotten along before.
>
> I suspect there will not be any Tetras to move in two more weeks anyway.
> :-|

All 12 of my neon's and all 5 black neon's have died. All 3 of the cherry
barbs also died. But I have a high PB and alkalinity problem so the stores
wont replace them and rightly so.
--

RM....
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[carlrs]

On Oct 22, 5:27 am, "Reel McKoi" > wrote:
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > I'm currently quarantining some Clowns, Tetras and Yoyos for a couple of
> > other tanks. I haven't been feeding them much, as they have some Ammonia
> > issues, despite seeding the filter from another tank. So I go to feed them
> > today and 5 of the Tetras are missing. I suspect it was the Clowns, as
> > they were harassing the Tetras when I fed them.
>
> The mouths of clown loaches are too small to suck in a tetra. If one dies
> they'll nibble at it. They may really be starving though. Why not do a few
> water changes to bring down the ammonia?
>
> > I had planned to move the Tetras and the Clowns to a tank with more
> > Tetras, but now I'm wondering. Did the Clowns eat the Tetras because they
> > were hungry from the lack of feeding or are they just as likely to eat
> > them anyway? I can always move the Tetras to a smaller tank with the
> > Yoyos, they've always gotten along before.
>
> > I suspect there will not be any Tetras to move in two more weeks anyway.
> > :-|
>
> All 12 of my neon's and all 5 black neon's have died. All 3 of the cherry
> barbs also died. But I have a high PB and alkalinity problem so the stores
> wont replace them and rightly so.
> --
>
> RM....
> ~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

How long has this tank been set up?

How did you seed the aquarium? Usually sponges or other filter media
works best, followed by gravel. Little nitrifying bacteria is found in
the water column as these bacteria usually adhere to surfaces of water
flow that contain adequate oxygen.
This article may help (although from reading your posts you probably
much of this information may be redundant):
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

As Real McCoy stated: "The mouths of clown loaches are too small to
suck in a tetra. If one dies they'll nibble at it." So I doubt this
was the problem, so most likely if they did consume them, it was after
the Tetras already died.

I would suggest more seasoned filter media exchanges as well as
incremental water changes.
I would also suggest Prime or Amquel Plus to de-toxify the ammonia
(the ammonium will still be available for nitrifying bacteria, so your
cycling will not be interrupted).

One other possibility is that the tetras were weak when you purchased
them and may have had an undiagnosed disease such as Neon Tetra
Disease
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/02/neon-tetra-disease.html

Carl

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"carlrs" > wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 22, 5:27 am, "Reel McKoi" > wrote:
> All 12 of my neon's and all 5 black neon's have died. All 3 of the cherry
> barbs also died. But I have a high PB and alkalinity problem so the stores
> wont replace them and rightly so.
> --
>
> RM....
> ~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

How long has this tank been set up?

* Several years. I had fancy goldfish in it, moved them outside, vacuumed
the gravel, added a heater, did a massive water change and started to add
the tropicals.

How did you seed the aquarium? Usually sponges or other filter media
works best, followed by gravel. Little nitrifying bacteria is found in
the water column as these bacteria usually adhere to surfaces of water
flow that contain adequate oxygen.
This article may help (although from reading your posts you probably
much of this information may be redundant):
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

* I left the seeded filter on the tank. Ammonia and Nitrites always read
zero but my water is extremely hard and alkaline.

As Real McCoy stated: "The mouths of clown loaches are too small to
suck in a tetra. If one dies they'll nibble at it." So I doubt this
was the problem, so most likely if they did consume them, it was after
the Tetras already died.

I would suggest more seasoned filter media exchanges as well as
incremental water changes.
I would also suggest Prime or Amquel Plus to de-toxify the ammonia
(the ammonium will still be available for nitrifying bacteria, so your
cycling will not be interrupted).

One other possibility is that the tetras were weak when you purchased
them and may have had an undiagnosed disease such as Neon Tetra
Disease
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/02/neon-tetra-disease.html

* I can only speak for myself but the ones in the store at PH 7.2 are still
alive and well.
--

RM....
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[Bill Stock]

"carlrs" > wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 22, 5:27 am, "Reel McKoi" > wrote:
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
>
How long has this tank been set up?

It's a spare I keep for quarrantining new fish, but it was empty.

How did you seed the aquarium? Usually sponges or other filter media
works best, followed by gravel. Little nitrifying bacteria is found in
the water column as these bacteria usually adhere to surfaces of water
flow that contain adequate oxygen.

I put some filter floss from my other aquarium in the HOB filter when I
added the fish. I also bought some bacteria, but it seems pretty much
useless. I've been doing daily water changes to keep the Ammonia down (light
Green on the Mardel strip). I also added a bag of gravel the other day to
try and speed up the process.

All the fish seem fine, the Clowns are getting more outgoing, colour looks
better and no signs of the dreaded Ich. My fear is that they got sucked up
the Python, the Tetras seem to have no fear of that thing. I thought I was
being carefule, but perhaps they played Jonah with all those water changes.
I usually cover the Python when cahnging water in the large tanks, so I can
do it unattended.


I would suggest more seasoned filter media exchanges as well as
incremental water changes.
I would also suggest Prime or Amquel Plus to de-toxify the ammonia
(the ammonium will still be available for nitrifying bacteria, so your
cycling will not be interrupted).

I've got some Ammo Rock somewhere, but the Ammonia is not all that high.

One other possibility is that the tetras were weak when you purchased
them and may have had an undiagnosed disease such as Neon Tetra
Disease
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/02/neon-tetra-disease.html

They're actually Cardinal Tetras, but I doubt it matters. The PH (7.8) may
be a little high for them, but my resident Tetras live in 8+ with no
complaints.

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> flow that contain adequate oxygen.
>
> All the fish seem fine, the Clowns are getting more outgoing, colour looks
> better and no signs of the dreaded Ich. My fear is that they got sucked
> up the Python,

DO NOT use a python without some kind of guard on the end!!!! I use some
old plastic widow screen scrunched up and held on with a rubberband. This
way the suction is spread out over the ball of screen and no fish get sucked
up and killed. PLEASE do not take the chance without a guard on the end.

the Tetras seem to have no fear of that thing. I thought I was
> being carefule, but perhaps they played Jonah with all those water
> changes. I usually cover the Python when cahnging water in the large
> tanks, so I can do it unattended.

They were surely sucked out. Always use a guard on the end as even a larger
fish can get stuck to the end and die.


--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[Jaden]

>
> They were surely sucked out. Always use a guard on the end as even a
> larger fish can get stuck to the end and die.

Good advice. I use an old silk stocking slipped over the end. Great for
vaccing sand aswell.....

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"Jaden" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> They were surely sucked out. Always use a guard on the end as even a
>> larger fish can get stuck to the end and die.
>
> Good advice. I use an old silk stocking slipped over the end. Great for
> vaccing sand aswell.....
===========================
I find the window screen is stiff enough to make a nice loose ball that
spreads the suction out and nothing can get stuck to the intake. I tried a
stocking and it was sucked into the hose itself. A fish can then get stuck
right through the stocking. :( But that was just my experience with
stockings.
--
RM....
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[Bill Stock]

"Jaden" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> They were surely sucked out. Always use a guard on the end as even a
>> larger fish can get stuck to the end and die.

They've gone from three to two with no sucking involved and #2 seems to be
wasting.

I'll call the LFS and see if they're having any issues.

> Good advice. I use an old silk stocking slipped over the end. Great for
> vaccing sand aswell.....

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
>
> I'll call the LFS and see if they're having any issues.
==============================
I lost 11 of the 12 I bought. I have one left as of this morning. I have to
stick with fish that can adapt to my water and give up the idea of small
tetras forever.

Oddly enough they ate and were active until they went into the plants to
die. :*(
--
RM....
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[gracerallson]

All the angle assume fine, the Clowns are accepting added outgoing, colour looks better and no signs of the alarming Ich. My abhorrence is that they got sucked up the Python, the Tetras assume to accept no abhorrence of that thing. I anticipation I was being carefule, but conceivably they played Jonah with all those baptize changes.