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I've had a school of six lemon tetras in my 29 gallon tank for a while, with a betta, six cories, and three ottos. Last week, one of the tetras was crushed to death from the suction in my powerhead's intake valve. Since then, the rest of the tetras have been very skittish, acting nervous and flighty. They often hide, instead of schooling out in the open like they used to. They have eaten a lot less, they used to be very voracious, and now food is pretty much ignored. I'm thinking their strange behavior stems from the death of the other tetra, and the reduced number in the tank. Am I right? Tomorrow, I plan on buying two more lemon tetras, so hopefully the others will become happy.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Just to make sure it isn't water quality first can you post test results in, nitrite,nitrate,and ph, probably because the group of shoaling fish has beeen reduced and made them nervous.

No, it wasn't the water, I've tested for that. Besides, I keep my tank water nice and clean. I added the two more tetras today, and they seem happier already. All seven were schooling together, so I assume there won't be any further problems. I like my lemons, so I'm glad they're feeling better.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Yeah, I've noticed significant changes in behavior from schooling fish when their number was dropped from 6 to 5. Of course, these were cories, but I think it's the same idea.

I guess it busts the whole "5 is so close to 6 it'll be fine" myth.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

it may be possible that the one that was killed was the alpha of the group and the others don't know where to go with out there "leader"

Who knows... In any case, one of the new tetras died. I'm not suprised, because I bought them from a store that I'm never going to again. That one store has accounted for almost all of my fish deaths, and was rude to me as well. The remaining new tetra seems to be fitting in, all six were schooling as a group when I woke up. I think that my lemons will be happy fish again.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

What's your planting like Sirbooks?

Only I have 5 Lemons that are quite happy because they have nice plant thickets to play with. And they're ALWAYS first up for the food - even beating the surface dwelling Pencil Fish to the colour food which is their favourite!

Mind you, I do have two big butch alpha males in the squad, which probably accounts for their temperament

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I have clumps of plastic plants in the back of the tank, but they don't hang out there much. I only have one tetra of any size, and that is the new one. The biggest fish in the tank is my betta, who is afraid of the tetras anyways. I don't know what they have to be worried about, my cories certainly won't attack them.:%)

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Ah, the idiosyncrasies of fish.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002