FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hello,

I am fairly new to fishkeeping and have a question about my tetras (I have 4 Black Phantoms, 5 Pristellas, and 6 Neons; along with 6 Panda corys and 3 Otocinclus).

I have a 55 gallon planted tank (low light with various anubias, crypts, and java ferns). As my plants have gradually grown and filled out, most of my fish have gone into perpetual hiding. They stay hidden in the plants and other decorations until its feeding time. They come out to eat and then go back into hiding. The tank is moderately planted with plenty of open swimming space available, but you would hardly notice that I even have fish in there, except for the corys who chase each other around at certain times during the day.

Is this typical tetra behavior? All 3 species I have are very placid in nature, so I wouldn't necessarily expect them to be constantly frolicking around the tank, but it would be nice to see them out and about a bit more often.

Does anyone have insight on tetra behavior to share?

Thanks for any information!

Regards,
Camille

I can only comment on the Neons. Even though I have only Cardinals their behaviour is basically the same.
When I was setting up my Betta tank I started of with a few at a time at six they were still hiding when I increased it to nine they all came out and were swimming at mid level.

I recently lost my M Betta which was the same colouring as them. During the time before I bought a new M Betta they all went into hiding again. After introducing the new M Betta very similar colouring they all came out again. It is as if he is their guard fish.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

That's interesting, Keithgh. My neons used to school together more often in the earlier days of the tank, before the plants filled in. Now they all just sort of do their own thing. I've wondered if increasing their numbers would encourage them to come out in the open.

I have also considered adding a Betta to my tank, but had read some conflicting opinions about whether that would be a good combination with my other fish (placid tetras, corys, and otos). Any opinions?

Thanks for responding to my post!

Regards,
Camille

i have 15 neons in my tank they do seem to like to hide in the back ground in with the plants there are about 4 that stay in the back of the tank and dont realy come to the front. With the otos i had 4 they seem to just sit about on the leaves a lot. One think i can say about the neons is that mine where nealy always at the back until i started giving them live food/frozen food and now they are a lot brighter and come out a lot more.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the response Juwel. My tetras also enjoy frozen food, and the one time I gave them live food, they were very excited indeed!

I was wondering the same thing about my red eyed tetras! In fact I came to this section to post & ask others what their experience has been with red eyed tetras & then saw your post, so thought I should comment here.

I only have 3 red eyes so that might make a diference. I have read the profiles on all my fish, so I know I should have more. But.......... my 3 serpaes, 5 glowlights & 1 neon (left from a group of 6) are almost always out, while my 3 beautiful red eyes are rarely seen except at feeding time. I was contemplating adding 2 more, but also wondering if I would end up with all 5 hiding. If that was going to be the end result, then I don't want any more. I have other fish also but nothing is picking on the red eyes to make them keep hidden. So, I do sympathize with you on not being abe to see your fish when you watch your tank, but sorry, I have no suggestions.

The Neons wouldn't school much, because there's no other fish that they are afraid of. If you introduce a bigger fish, they will start schooling again, as they'll be afraid of it.

From the description, i really like your setup, Camille.
Can you post a picture,please?.

I'm also into Anubias & just recently started a planted tank. As Tetras, i have Rummynose, but i really like the Pristellas & hope to buy some aswell.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

The following observations may prove useful.

[1] When I had a group of 6 Cardinals in my aquarium, they were somewhat shy and retiring. When I boosted the size of the shoal to 12, they became much more forthcoming.

[2] Cardinals don't like strong currents. I wondered why my Cardinals had begun hiding again, and found out why during a water change - the powerhead had been set accidentally to hurricane force setting during maintenance at the previous water change, and the Cardinals objected. The Panda Corys loved it, but of course I couldn't see my Cardinals ...

[3] When I reduced the current from the powerhead, the Cardinals became more forthcoming again. Though they're still a little bit more timid than they were. I think the time spent in the strong current has upset them somewhat.

So, if you have Neons or Cardinals that are hiding from view, first of all, a larger shoal makes them bolder, and second, if the filter is producing a strong current, find a way to moderate the current (say by using a spray bar to spread the current over a wider area) and again they should become more outgoing.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Do tetras eat blood worms?

edith

Sorry I just read that they do

edith

Oh I can definitely vouch for the fact that Tetras will eat Bloodworm.

Even "stealth feeders" like Cardinals are tempted to be more openly gluttonous by live Bloodworms. Drop a batch of live Bloodworm into the midst of a shoal of Lemon Tetras and wham, instant miniature shark feeding frenzy. Rummies are a bit more like Cardinals in this respect, and tend to be somewhat more genteel in their approach than Lemons, but even so, they'll help themselves with undisguised relish.

I suspect that the majority of Tetras fall into the same mould as the Lemons when it comes to Bloodworm - eat now, ask questions later.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

All my tetras, glowlights, red eyes, & serpaes eat anything I put in there. As far as packaged food they eat flakes, dried bloodworms, dried tubifex worms & dried baby shrimp. They even come down to eat some of the bottom feeders food, sinking shrimp pellets & aglae wafers.

LOL Mine eat well they want to get big big my agels love haveing them in the tank. out of 16 nieon tetras I now have 5 and they aren't jumping out or going in to the filter

edith