On Jan 23, 2:08*pm, Jürgen Exner wrote:
On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:13:23 -0800 (PST), wrote:
I'm setting up a new tank (29gal). *So far I have only 3 neon tetras
in the tank with no other fish.

Did you cycle the tank? How? Or did you put the neons into a virgin
tank? They are _NOT_ a suitable fish for cycling a tank but require
stablized and prefer even somewhat spezialized water conditions.

My problem is that the neons hang out
near the bottom which wouldn't be a problem but they seem to not
notice when I place food in the tank.

What are your water parameters? Chances are they just feel very sick in
an uncycled tank. They can get used to other water conditions with time
but prefer soft water, below pH 7, and shaded. Filtering over peat moss
helps a lot.

Besides, 3 is really not enough. Neon tetras are social fish and should
not be kept in schools of less than 5-7 fish.

jue

Yes I was trying to cycle the tank using the neons so that's probably
my rookie mistake. The seem basically ok and once the notice the food
they do go after it but you may well be right in that they're not
feeling as well as could be. pH is high 8.0. I considered buying
something to lower it but the only thing i found said not to use in a
tank with plants and while I don't have any yet, I want to get some
soon. I don't have a general hardness or carbonate hardness test kit
yet so I haven't tested for those values.