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After a week 1 tetra still is agressive - What to do?

4K views 18 replies 9 participants last post by  Tyyrlym 
#1 ·
After one week the majority of the aggression has disappeared. Except for one. Who I would call the older one because he does seem older then the others and slightly larger. Well he is still aggressive. Chasing the other tetra's that come near him. Once in a while two smaller tetra's go after him and I smile and say "paybacks a b****". He got aggressive once with one of the larger balla sharks and quickly learned he made a mistake. He does not bother the glass catfish.

My question is, is he going to continue to be aggressive? Would it be smart to bring him back to the fish store and just tell em that he is being to aggressive and I can't keep him in the tank?
 
#4 ·
Yeah, I'm confused as well. What kind of tetra is this? A picture would be worth a thousand words here.
 
#5 ·
I think for us to best advise you here the following info would help:
1) Tank size?
2) Full stock of tank?
3) What Tetra?
 
#7 ·
What size tank and who all is living with them?
 
#9 ·
Are these black skirt tetras, I'm assuming?

I would return the aggressor and maybe get another one. Black skirts are moderately nippy so increasing school size can be helpful. While you're at it I would return the bala sharks as well. These guys get to be over a foot long, are schooling fish and are active swimmers. Suffice it to say they need a very large tank (six feet long at the very least). Depending on the species, your pleco might need to go as well (common plecos reach 18" or more and are massive waste machines). Not to sound to harsh or anything, but these fish really do get much too large for a tank of your size.
 
#10 ·
I am pretty sure I am taking that tetra back. One of the smaller tetra's is missing a lot of her "skirt" missing. He chases them around the tank now and is now bothering the glass catfish. Maybe he needs to realize that the big green fish net is the boss ha.

The bala's will only grow as big as the tank will allow them, the same with pleco's. I spoke to a guy who has (not even joking) 100's of balla's in a pond like thing in his house informed me of that. He's been dealing with bala's for years.
 
#11 ·
That is not true. Look up stunting. That is what is happening. Fish do not grow to fit their environment. They stop growing externally, but inside, their organs are still growing, crushing them from the inside when they don't have enough space. Keeping a fish in a tank that does not allow them room to grow to full length is tortuous to the animal.
 
#12 ·
Whoa whoa WHOA.

This bala guy was dead on when he said that balas will only grow to the size of their tank. Their skeletons will, their organs will not. In essence, they get crushed to death from the inside out by a condition caused by stunting called organ compaction. Why do you think he keeps his balas in a POND?!

Also, what exactly defines the size of the tank. Just because their growth will be stunted does not mean they can't still grow larger than what your tank will support. In fact, skittish balas (from being kept in inadequate schools) have been known to bolt into tank walls and the lid when they get startled, potentially breaking the tank.

Furthermore the bioload of even 2 balas and a pleco alone will be too heavy for your tank, stunting or no, poisoning your fish with ammonia, nitrite and nitrate (ie their own waste).


As for the tetras, 6 is the minimum they can properly be kept in, but a school of more is way more likely to work out successfully in your tank.
 
#14 ·
Were not trying to be mean to you, but we are letting you know, it is killing them. There's no need to ditch the tank. There PLENTY of species that can adequately live in a 30 gallon tank. Just do a bit more research! ;)
 
#15 ·
Yeah pet stores are the master of misinformation and we know you have good intentions but that doesn't mean it's right to keep these fish in an improper tank.

A LOT of people come to this forum after stocking a new tank then realise 'Oh shoot..." and wind up taking half their fish back to the store. It's not uncommon, it's all part of the learning curve and it's a hard lesson to learn that pet stores are only out for your money.

All you have to do is take the plec and balas back (perhaps give the balas to your friend's pond?) and you will be fine.
 
#16 ·
The fish store here is actually a family owned store and they are real knowledgeable with fish. They'll tell you the truth. Which is weird compared to other "petco's" where they are just interested in money. The pleco I got from a friend who works there, the pleco is about 2 years old now, the first year the pleco was in a 10g tank. The bala sharks can't get any bigger then they are now. They're already 5-6 inches in length. Can't see them getting bigger.
 
#17 ·


This is a bala shark a guy is trying to sell on the classifieds of my local forum. 3 years old. He thought the same thing as you did. Now the fish is 13"... the fish behind it is a kissing gourami, which is about 5".

Even independent fish stores have a reputation for questionable advice. I am still wary of some of the advice I get from LFSes I know to be correct most of the time. Some of them are great and know a lot about fish, but when it comes to stocking and adult size the vast majority of corporate and independent pet stores fall short.
 
#18 ·
Wow I never knew the organ/skeleton growth thing...

Anyways, apparently they aren't very knowledgeable with fish if they are giving misinformation. :p

Those particular fish may not be suitable for your tank, but that doesn't mean you should pack it up and get rid of it. There's plenty of fish who will work just fine in your 30g aquarium. That don't get to be too big for it.
 
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