fionah

I have 10 neon tetras in a 65 litre tank with corydoras and 2 gouramis. The neon tetras hide away as soon as the lighting is switched on in the tank, or if the room is quite bright.

The other fish do not bother with the tetras, and the tetras also come out darting around snatching the food before the gouramis at feeding time (with lights on), but go back into hiding as soon as the food has gone. They hide behind the plants, bogwood and stone ornament.

I originally had 6 tetras, but got 4 more hoping that they would be better in a larger shoal, but it hasn't made a difference.

Is there something I can do to encourage the tetras to come out? I hardly see them because I can't see the tank clearly without the lights on!

SereneReyn

they might need other small schooling fish to kinda make them brave. if they see that there's nothing to be afraid of, they may come out more. i have a dozen neons and they're all over the place, especially at meal time. but they were the first occupants, and at first they were skittish, hiding alot... once they saw the kuhlis and then the angels out and about, they got braver. also, temperature can affect their activity level too, i believe... make sure it's warm enough. i keep my tank around 79*.

Mert16

Hey sereneReyn I have the same problem. I have lemon tetras only three though but my tank is only 14 gal. and doesnt permit me to get more. Im hoping to get a bigger tank soon, But I was thinking what if the bulb is a lower wattage and what if we float some plants at the top to dim the water. do you think it would work.

SereneReyn

i've noticed with my neons it's not so much plants on the top that they seem to like, but plants filling the whole middle of the tank - they dart in and out of them all over the place. but it certainly couldn't hurt to try a little shadow for them. it's likely that yours mert are skittish because of their numbers as well, like you said... so i would just make sure there are tons of plants for them, and if your other fish are mellow (non-aggressive) but active that can only help as well.

fionah

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I have plants throughout around the tank: some scattered in the middle, and quite a lot grouped together at the back. They just hide at the back.

There are 2 lights in my tank, one is less bright than the other. Even when the dull one is on, the fish hide away. In any case, I need to have light because of the live plants.

I would love more fish, but unfortunately I don't have room in my tank to get any as it's already slightly overstocked.

The temperature is steady at 24.5*C / 76.1*F. I actually thought this was the right temperature for my fish, but yours is much higher! Now I'm worried I have the totally wrong temp in my tank.

SereneReyn

cooler water slows down their metabolism and makes them a bit sluggish. if you decide to raise it, do it very, very gradually... and be aware that it may mean that everyone eats a tiny bit more.

i have fairly bright lights in my tank (for live plants) and it doesn't seem to bother anyone... they do spaz a little if it suddenly goes either dark or light... so at night for example, i leave the room lights on brightly, and turn off the tank light, and a little while later turn off the room lights, and basically do the opposite in the morning.

couldn't hurt to double check your water parameters too - neons are pretty sensitive to ammonia/nitrites/nitrates.

Mert16

thanks for the advice!

momo9700

Mine really like having plants at the top. I have some floating for when my platy fry are released into the tank and i see my fishies(neons and the platies) hanging out under it. they hang out under the breeder net too. i guess they enjot shade from time to time.