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My poor lonely neons!

3K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  joeyfishluv 
#1 ·
We are now down to 7 neons :( (we started at 12)
Since the last one died the remaining 7 have been gathering together and hovering together mid hight, staring into the glass for hours on end.
I guess they are feeling a bit lonely? and seeing their reflection makes them feel better? - Its the best I could come up with!

Is that what it is? or is it something else? This has only been going on for a week and we are planning on getting more but how many is good? how many before they are happy again? Can I get different color neons to join them or will they need to be the same? If I get some the same and some different color ones will they join together in a big group or will it be gang warfare in there?

Thank you guys! :)
 
#3 ·
Is this tank newly set up, or an established aquarium? If it is newer, you could be having ammonia and nitrate problems which would kill off fish, and create stressed behavioR(swimming in a very tight group) and decreased activity. Please test your water and let us know what the parameters are.
Are we talking about neon tetras? As far as I am aware, there is only one color of neon tetra- blue stripe with red underneath. If there are other colors, they area different species of tetra, and no, they will not school together.
Hope that helps some!
 
#5 ·
Ye its an established tank. Ammonia was ok last time I checked its gravelvac/water change day tomorrow but I'll check now, all the other fish are ok in there. I'm sure I've seen orange and green neon tetra? maybe the store just called them something made up!!
 
#8 ·
I would be more concerned about what is killing them before adding more fish. Losing 5 of 12 is a considerable number, particularly if it is over a short time frame... of course if it is old age, that is another matter altogether. What were the symptoms, water parameters (hardness pH, and temperature)?

I haven't looked at tetras at all so I really am not familiar with their tendencies when it comes to mixing and matching different variations.

Jeff.
 
#10 ·
We have been quite unlucky with the neons. We got them 6 months ago and lost 2 in the first week for unknown reasons. We lost another to a bout of white spot a few weeks later. The next one we found dead and very fat, we assumed it just ate to much. The last one died last week, it stopped feeding and socializing then went very pale and ill looking so I separated him immediately fearing neon tetra disease (not that I knew what it looked like) but it dies less than two days later.
 
#11 ·
I didn't know the time line or reasons... yah, sounds like some bad luck.

It might be worth while going with a different fish altogether. I've never heard anything other than neons being prone to health issues.

Jeff.
 
#12 ·
Ye bad luck is the only thing I could put it down to! Except the bout of white spot all conditions have been the same each time.

Its a 50gal tank so there is other stuff in there too, I got another 12 today and they are a lot happier now!
 
#13 ·
Keep a close eye on them, as "loneliness" is not likely the issue.

First on the species, there are four closely related species in the genus Paracheirodon. The neon tetra is P. innesi, the cardinal tetra is P. axelrodi, and the false or often termed green neon tetra is P. simulans. The fourth species which Heiko Bleher discovered in 2006 has as yet not been described and named, and you will almost certainly not find this fish anywhere [see profile of the neon for more on this]. These are distinct species.

Now, the neon tetra itself has a couple of colour varieties developed presumably by selective breeding. There is a "gold" neon, and I think an albino, and perhaps another or two. Whatever, these are all the same single species and have the same requirements, etc.

The Green or False Neon is a distinct species (Paracheirodon simulans) as I mentioned above, and it is very sensitive to water parameters and conditions, being wild caught. Genetically it is closer to the cardinal than the neon, as it explains in the profile here.

To the health issues. Neons have been commercially raised for decades now, largely in outdoor ponds in Florida and SE Asia, and sometimes in tanks. It is well known that the fish have weakened considerably, often said to be due to the excessive inbreeding. This happens with almost all fish that are commercially raised. There is no influx of new genes as would occur in the wild.

This is a soft water fish, and regardless of generations of commercial breeding, the fish still requires soft water to be at its best. I suspect this plays a role in all this.
 
#14 ·
I have a small bunch of 4 Cardinal Tetras that were cohabitating with 2 beautiful bloodfin tetras. These Cardinals were very skittish and would hide behind rocks and plants every time I approached the tank. Their red color was washed out and they didn't look very good. I performed a 40% water change and their color began to improve.
About a week ago, I acclimated 6 Orange Von Rio tetras. The very same day the Von Rio tetras were acclimated, the Cardinals began schooling with them and coming to the front and center of the tank. Their behavior changed dramatically and their color is absolutely fabulous now! They really like all of their brothers/sisters.

Anyone else out there have experience with Von Rios (flame tetras)?
 
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