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Today I noticed very odd behavior between 3 out of 5 Black tetras. The one is huge, looks like it swallowed a marble, and the other 2 are chasing it around, swimming really fast and crazy. They were driving me insane, so I moved the fat one, I assume it's a pregnant female (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and now she's just laying there like she's dying. Why did they start swimming like they were on steriods all of a sudden? If it's a pregnant female, how long before i see eggs and what should I be doing? Would it be better off being chased in the tank with the other ones? I've never seen behavior like this before, and they've been together for over a year.

they were most likely breeding
u should keep them together as there egg layers
the eggs need to b fertilized
jsut make sure she has places to hide

it sounds like breeding behaviour, tho i've never seen a female tetra "like she's swallowed a marble" - they get plump when spawning, but never swollen, IME. i hope she isn't suffering from some other condition? but i'd probably put her back in and let her get rid of the eggs, if that's what they are...especially as it doesn't sound like she's enjoying being seperated.

Toss in a hunk of Java Moss and see if they start burying themselves in it at intervals. If they do, then they're spawning.

Characins tend to engage in mad chases around the aquarium prior to spawning. My Lemons do this. In fact, sometimes they move so fast you would swear that they're red shifting!



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002