Black Skirt Tetra Trouble

I recently added 2 new black skirt tetras to my tanks, so now there are 6 black skirt tetras in total. I thought that they would be more comfortable in a bigger group but aughhhhh, they absolutely do not get along anymore after the addition of the new fish and won't school, instead constantly nipping and chasing each other. They're stressing out my gourami because when they chase each other, they get into his territory. I have a 50 gallon tank and besides the 6 tetras there is the blue gourami, 5 serpae, a pleco, and an angelfish. Is my tank overstocked, which is causing the issue??? What should I do?

 

Hey, and welcome to FishLore!

The reason why you might be experiencing some chasing from the school is that there might be a bad neighbor, which is one of these fish. The other fish probably aren't the cause. What type of pleco in general? I don't think you are overstocked, but you might have to find the black skirt who is causing the trouble.

 

Hey, and welcome to FishLore!

The reason why you might be experiencing some chasing from the school is that there might be a bad neighbor, which is one of these fish. The other fish probably aren't the cause. What type of pleco in general? I don't think you are overstocked, but you might have to find the black skirt who is causing the trouble.

It's an albino bristlenose around 3 inches long. I've had him for a year and a half now.

 

No, you aren't overstocked. In fact, you might have to watch the skirts closely, and maybe you can exchange one, for a different one.

 

No, you aren't overstocked. In fact, you might have to watch the skirts closely, and maybe you can exchange one, for a different one.

Oh thank goodness ;V; ~ that's great to hear. Alright, I'm going to keep an eye on them and figure out who's causing all the trouble. Thank you!

 

Oh thank goodness ;V; ~ that's great to hear. Alright, I'm going to keep an eye on them and figure out who's causing all the trouble. Thank you!

If it's no trouble, may I see a picture?

 

I had added 6 black skirts to my 55 Gallon they turned out to be thugs.I removed 4 of them and every thing settled down.

 

I had added 6 black skirts to my 55 Gallon they turned out to be thugs.I removed 4 of them and every thing settled down.

But, black skirts are schoolers, and need to be kept in groups of 6+.

 

I recently added 2 new black skirt tetras to my tanks, so now there are 6 black skirt tetras in total. I thought that they would be more comfortable in a bigger group but aughhhhh, they absolutely do not get along anymore after the addition of the new fish and won't school, instead constantly nipping and chasing each other. They're stressing out my gourami because when they chase each other, they get into his territory. I have a 50 gallon tank and besides the 6 tetras there is the blue gourami, 5 serpae, a pleco, and an angelfish. Is my tank overstocked, which is causing the issue??? What should I do?

I honestly would add 2 more blackskirts. They like schools of 6-8 and maybe that one will settle down. How long has it been? Sometimes it takes a couple weeks for everyone to settle in and get to know each other.

 

I just want to mention this. If you'd had 6, and they fought. You removed them, and of course they would stop fighting, because they would have less fish to pick at, and fewer options.

 

I have had this set of glo-fish tetras (which are genetically modified blackskirts) for over 6 months. Well actually only 3 of them for 6 months. 1 was super aggressive killed another fish in my tank. Basically fin-nipped it to death. (I was a bad fish mom before finding this forum). So I upped the school numbers to 5 total in February. The fighting stopped for the most part. One fish was definitely more aggressive and chased the others, but no further injuries.

I just added 4 black skirts, for a total of 9 in their school. (This week actually) There is some chasing and acting up, but honestly they are behaving themselves. Even much more so than when I had the two schools in two separate tanks. All of the bullying has almost completely went away. Now it looks like they are more playing with each other than actual fighting if that makes any sense.

That's why I suggest upping the number of fish.

 

black skirts like tall plants to dart thru. you could up the blackskirts to a dozen total, then perhaps the bully fish's aggression will spread out and hopefully calm down.

 

I have had between 5 and 13 Blackskirts. A friend of mine from 2 to 4. They act a little different than some tetras. Mine don't school very tight 2/3rds of the time. Perhaps because nothing else in the tank threatens them at all. They chase each other frequently but no physical contact. I put some neons in briefly and they tormented them. IME blackkirts are OK community fish but only with the right species mix. Perhaps best if something else in the tank intimidates them somewhat. Then maybe they would school most of the time.

 

A lot of times what looks like chasing and fin nipping is really spawning.

 

They attacked my abino cory`s from the minute I added them,it was a big mistake on my part because I should have remover the Black Skirts earlier because of their bad behavior,they were like reef sharks at feeding time.

 

A lot of times what looks like chasing and fin nipping is really spawning.

Ohhhhh I totally am expecting babies from the new group I just put in there. They are definitely doing the dance. There were 2 males and 2 females and I have 2 female glo-fish and 3 male glofish. And now that I know that glo-fish aren't sterile, I am surprised I haven't had babies up until now actually.

Edit: I should say I don't necessarily expect babies to survive. I am letting nature take its course that way. Not pulling them out of the tank or anything.

 

If it's no trouble, may I see a picture?

Yeah, of course! They just keep zooming around everywhere so it was a bit hard to get pictures. I hope this is helpful ;A;

 

I had a opaline/three spot gourami like yours. We actually had 2, and they didn't mix well, so we rehomed them, and changed our tank completely after that!

 

I honestly would add 2 more blackskirts. They like schools of 6-8 and maybe that one will settle down. How long has it been? Sometimes it takes a couple weeks for everyone to settle in and get to know each other.

I've had them for around 4 days. Do you think I should just give them more time to settle in? The reason I'm showing concern so early is that I also added 2 new serpae into the tank and they integrated into the school perfectly with no nipping or chasing while the black skirts have had much more difficulty.

 

They attacked my abino cory`s from the minute I added them,it was a big mistake on my part because I should have remover the Black Skirts earlier because of their bad behavior,they were like reef sharks at feeding time.

I've had them for around 4 days. Do you think I should just give them more time to settle in? The reason I'm showing concern so early is that I also added 2 new serpae into the tank and they integrated into the school perfectly with no nipping or chasing while the black skirts have had much more difficulty.

It's hard to know. If they weren't so impossible to catch you could remove the individual jerks for a a day or two to mellow out. I have ten cory's in the tank and they don't give them a second look. Not even once.

 

I had a opaline/three spot gourami like yours. We actually had 2, and they didn't mix well, so we rehomed them, and changed our tank completely after that!

He wasn't much trouble before the new tetras arrived ;A; they're actually nipping at him now, which is making this all worse.... Augh I think I'm going to see how things go for a few more days and if they don't calm down, I think I'll just return the tetras for more docile ones instead. Hopefully this will diffuse the situation, and if not....I'll think about rehoming the gourami, as sad as it makes me say it.

It's hard to know. If they weren't so impossible to catch you could remove the individual jerks for a a day or two to mellow out. I have ten cory's in the tank and they don't give them a second look. Not even once.

Putting them in isolation works to mellow them out ? Should I put them in an entirely different tank or like a small breeder tank that attaches to the side of the 50 gal?

 

Ohhhhh I totally am expecting babies from the new group I just put in there. They are definitely doing the dance. There were 2 males and 2 females and I have 2 female glo-fish and 3 male glofish. And now that I know that glo-fish aren't sterile, I am surprised I haven't had babies up until now actually.

Edit: I should say I don't necessarily expect babies to survive. I am letting nature take its course that way. Not pulling them out of the tank or anything.

Babies will survive if you have gravel. If not but some river rocks or marbles down in there favorite spawning spot. Before you know it you'll have too many fry and have to give some away .

He wasn't much trouble before the new tetras arrived ;A; they're actually nipping at him now, which is making this all worse.... Augh I think I'm going to see how things go for a few more days and if they don't calm down, I think I'll just return the tetras for more docile ones instead. Hopefully this will diffuse the situation, and if not....I'll think about rehoming the gourami, as sad as it makes me say it.


Putting them in isolation works to mellow them out ? Should I put them in an entirely different tank or like a small breeder tank that attaches to the side of the 50 gal?

A breeder net works to train them up a bit. It will change the pecking order too.

 

A lot of times what looks like chasing and fin nipping is really spawning.

Is there a way to distinguish between regular fin nipping/aggression vs. spawning?

A breeder net works to train them up a bit. It will change the pecking order too.

OkI I think I will give that a shot!

 

Is there a way to distinguish between regular fin nipping/aggression vs. spawning?

When you see 1 swim at another and both of them do a quick 90 degree turn its spawning. If you start to see a lot of damaged fins that is a dead giveaway. If it is aggression don't worry too much there just establishing a pecking order. It should calm down in a few days.

 

I would actually add about three more. Having an odd number helped out the agreesion between my Bleeding Hearts and my Bentos Tetras (which just school with each other, the Bentos Tetras just look like juvenile Bleeding Hearts, probably shoulda thought that through a little better). I know it sounds odd, but pecking order is probably the most important thing when it comes to keeping Tetras, besides their basic needs.

Sorry, just read through the rest of the thread. Looks like we've established that they're spawning. Sorry bout that.

 

If you can post a short video of them interacting , we can let you know if its spawning.

 

If you can post a short video of them interacting , we can let you know if its spawning.

That would be best. BS Tetras are so active in normal activity it's not easy so easy to say. I refer to my pack as the meth heads for a reason.

 

That would be best. Tetras are so active in normal activity it's not easy so easy to say. I refer to my pack as the meth heads for a reason.

Lol I call mine the tag team.

 

Ours are called "The Raiders" for 2 reasons. One they are black and silver (hubby is a Raiders fan) and They raid the all the food when I feed them. Like minI piranhas.

I've had them for around 4 days. Do you think I should just give them more time to settle in? The reason I'm showing concern so early is that I also added 2 new serpae into the tank and they integrated into the school perfectly with no nipping or chasing while the black skirts have had much more difficulty.

I would definitely give it some more time. If you see an actual injury, then I would pull them out sooner.

I would actually add about three more. Having an odd number helped out the agreesion between my Bleeding Hearts and my Bentos Tetras (which just school with each other, the Bentos Tetras just look like juvenile Bleeding Hearts, probably shoulda thought that through a little better). I know it sounds odd, but pecking order is probably the most important thing when it comes to keeping Tetras, besides their basic needs.

Sorry, just read through the rest of the thread. Looks like we've established that they're spawning. Sorry bout that.

That's actually quite interesting. I have 9 skirts, so maybe that's why mine calmed down. Hmm.

If you can post a short video of them interacting , we can let you know if its spawning.

If you can't get a video to load. Upload it to you tube, you can set it to private where you can just have the link available to watch. That's how I have to do it.

 

Ok ~ I'll see if I can get a video up by tomorrow.

 

But, black skirts are schoolers, and need to be kept in groups of 6+.

Your right fanatic. They will not school until they feel threatened. They will go after each other till they have a family.

 

So it seems like the issue isn't spawning, earlier this morning I took out one of the newer tetras because I noticed that he had been leading the nipping and chasing. They're traveling in something sort of like a school now (it's more loosely packed and they swim off independently often) and are doing much better than yesterday. I'm going to let the fish stay in the breeder net for some time and see if I can reintegrate it into the school.

 

I have kept groups of black skirts I have 13 of them, and of course they were added in groups in a 29 gallon at first it was really stressful since there was a lot of fighting going on and for me the problem was that the Tetras already in the tank had established minI territories and when new fish were added they would clash, I would move decor around every time new fish came in to give everyone a chance they fight for a while to establish new territories and the dominant fish changed every time eventually they all settled down and they have been extremley peacefully since they do school just very very loosely haha

 

some of them just have attitude and you are not overstocked. I have a 30 gal. over stocked. judt a good filter and lots of plants.

 

I have six and they're so chill. When the Elodea grew up tall, they got super duper mellow. I think it made them feel more secure. They swim thru it and go into other parts of the tank they previously would never go to. The entire time I've had then they would only swim in the middle and occasionally grab a piece of food off the top and zoom back, but with the tall Elodea, they swim higher and lower than before, noticeably.

 

So it seems like the issue isn't spawning, earlier this morning I took out one of the newer tetras because I noticed that he had been leading the nipping and chasing. They're traveling in something sort of like a school now (it's more loosely packed and they swim off independently often) and are doing much better than yesterday. I'm going to let the fish stay in the breeder net for some time and see if I can reintegrate it into the school.

Glad you figured out who the trouble maker was. I tried to video mine acting crazy today, and they were behaving themselves. I was shocked. Just like a kid. Wanting to catch them in the act and they stop doing it lol

 

I have 16 skirts they behave quite well. Maybe adding more will help.

 

I have 16 skirts they behave quite well. Maybe adding more will help.

Oki, I'm thinking about getting a few more. How many of them do you think my tank can hold?

 

Theyre simply establishing order. I have 24 and they school together but they often chase when the less dominat males move to the front of the pack. Never any injuries. They also have 4 white skirt and 7 glofish morphs in their school.

 

Oki, I'm thinking about getting a few more. How many of them do you think my tank can hold?

You can probably add 4-5 more. Glow tetras and white skirts will school with them too there technically the same species.