Danios messing with my Cardinals?

gilfish

So a few weeks ago I had 16 cardinal tetras in my tank. I now have 12. I seem to lose one every week or so. I have only found one head - other than that - no bodies.

The only fish that picks on them is my zebra danios. They're about the same size and I used to think they were just schooling together but as I watched tonight it looked like the Danios (2 of 5) were fin-nipping the Cards and pushing them sideways.

Do you think the zebra danios are killing the Cards and then everyone else in the tank is eating them?

? ?

Lupin

Silver dollars and bala sharks. Both are far too big for the likings of the wee tetras. Balas will reach 12 inches in the future and silver dollars have as much chance as the balas reaching to almost 8 inches. I'd suggest rehoming both of these fish in a larger tank.

gilfish

Hmmmmm... Did you read my theory about the danios? I know how big the balas will get - and the SD's. No thoughts on the Danios nipping the tetras?

misplacedsooner

I would think the barbs would be the nippers.
mike c

Lupin

I read but I suspect your SDs and balas as the likeliest suspects behind the disappearance and decapitating of heads of your cardies more than your danios. Danios can nip but not kill your tetras entirely especially when you said both are of the same size. I have not seen nor heard of danios murdering fellow tankmates unless they are complelely the size of a fry.
Yes. Tiger barbs are also to be suspected and oftentimes, they can kill small fish.

leifthebunny

Well, fish don't always read the books. :P

I wouldn't suspect the balas unless they were large enough. They are a pretty peaceful shark. The tiger barbs would be more likely as a candidate, but to only leave a head? How big are your fish? And do you have any inverts in the tank such as shrimp? Most shrimp including algae eating shrimp are good at cleaning up corpses.

gilfish

No shrimp. You can scroll over my tank blurb below. Just one head out of 4 disappearances. Maybe I just found it before they could finish it off.

Anyway, the one zebra kept nipping and nipping so i got rid of it. There are 4 other zebras in there who are fun and friendly and hang out at the top, far from the Cards. One bad apple i guess.

Anyway, all OK now.

Thanks all. :o