Diamond tetra and guppy tank

Hello,

I have a 55g planted tank with currently 5 male guppies and 7 male and female diamond tetras.

The tank was set up in February, cycled for a month or so now.

I do a weekly 10% water change, parameters are

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 5.0

I guess this is a twofold question here.

The guppies were in the tank first and I had moved them over from my 10 gallon, and had them for 7 months.

The tetras moved over 3 weeks ago after being in a quarantine tank.

They’re very skittish and extremely active swimmers (unsure if this is the norm) and recently I’ve noticed that one of the tetras has a cloudy eye and damaged gill, and the other has decently ripped fins.

I’m inclined to think this is due to aggression on their behalf, or potentially damage from hitting something in the aquarium?

During the day I haven’t witnessed any bullying or nipping. Both fish appear fine and still eating.

Secondly, I have had two of my guppies had their fins torn off. There is zero aggression between any of the fish during the day, so it’s either happening at night by either a guppy or tetra - or they’ve potentially torn it against something.

So I guess my questions are:

1. Is the behaviour I’ve described common of that of a Diamond Tetra?
2. Are we thinking damage or illness with the 2 diamond tetras I’ve mentioned?
3. Suggestions on why my guppies fins are being torn?
4. Feeding question: I currently feed once every other day. Could it be that I’m not feeding enough and the tetras and hungry during the night and going after the guppies?

I’m wary to over feed as guppies don’t know when to stop eating!

Thanks guys

 

I can't answer the question of Diamond Tetra behavior, but I don't think you're feeding often enough. I try to feed small amounts twice a day. I noticed you had a stick-on-the-glass tab that you're feeding. Is that all you feed? The reason I ask is that I have certain fish that couldn't seem to figure out that the tab was food when I tried them, and refused to eat them off the glass.

 

Male Diamonds will fight, but usually no physical damage occurs. The Diamonds are likely to fin nip the Guppies & also members of their own species.
Looks like an injury on the pictured Diamond. Feeding once s day might help lessen the fin nipping. A few more Diamonds wouldn't hurt either.
I've been keeping Diamonds for quite a while. One of my favorites.

 

I can't answer the question of Diamond Tetra behavior, but I don't think you're feeding often enough. I try to feed small amounts twice a day. I noticed you had a stick-on-the-glass tab that you're feeding. Is that all you feed? The reason I ask is that I have certain fish that couldn't seem to figure out that the tab was food when I tried them, and refused to eat them off the glass.

Thanks for your reply. No I normally alternate between flakes, brine shrimp and bloodworms. Although since I moved them in with the guppies I haven’t given them bloodworms (frozen) as I’d read they’d cause bloating in the guppies?

The tab was an experiment for my 10g; I have Pygmy cories that are really picky eaters!

Male Diamonds will fight, but usually no physical damage occurs. The Diamonds are likely to fin nip the Guppies & also members of their own species.
Looks like an injury on the pictured Diamond. Feeding once s day might help lessen the fin nipping. A few more Diamonds wouldn't hurt either.
I've been keeping Diamonds for quite a while. One of my favorites.

Ah they could be causing the nipping? That’s such a bummer, I did a bunch of research and thought I’d chosen well putting both species together.

I love them too, so beautiful.

Do you think I’m risking the guppies by keeping them with the tetras?

I’ve been contemplating dwarf rainbow fish for my new addition to the tank (once everyone’s happy) - but wasn’t sure whether that would help or hinder the current behaviour of the tetras.

One final question as you know about them! I’m currently running my light at 60 par, 8 hours a day (4 hours on, break for 3 hours, 4 hours on) as my plants need the growth. However I recently discovered that Diamond tetras prefer dimmer light - could that be contributing to the aggression?

Thank you so much!

 

I’d read they’d cause bloating in the guppies?

Bloodworms are just generally junkfood for fish. Bad nutritional value, often coming from highly polluted production ponds and recently suspected of causing some kind of poisoning effect in cichlids.

About Tetra behaviour: Bickering and (mock-)fighting is normal for many species of tetras and pencilfish. I have never had wild caught tetras and pencils of any kind without fin damage. As they haven't got the possibility to evade each other in a tank, structure helps. Some branches and twigs (must be dry. autmn storm results from last year would be ideal.) hanging/reaching into the tank from above have proven very helpful.

 

Bloodworms are just generally junkfood for fish. Bad nutritional value, often coming from highly polluted production ponds and recently suspected of causing some kind of poisoning effect in cichlids.

About Tetra behaviour: Bickering and (mock-)fighting is normal for many species of tetras and pencilfish. I have never had wild caught tetras and pencils of any kind without fin damage. As they haven't got the possibility to evade each other in a tank, structure helps. Some branches and twigs (must be dry. autmn storm results from last year would be ideal.) hanging/reaching into the tank from above have proven very helpful.

Thank you so much. I’ll ditch the bloodworms and look into more structure.
I’ve been debating red root floaters but don’t want to obscure the light to the rest of the plants too much.. Maybe I should anyway.

 

I find tetras need a quite shaded tank, wouldn't hurt. But then again, while I do have a lot of plants in my tanks, for me the fish and their needs come first.

 

I find tetras need a quite shaded tank, wouldn't hurt. But then again, while I do have a lot of plants in my tanks, for me the fish and their needs come first.

Fair point. I’ll get on it

 

You might find these interesting.

Moenkhausia pittieri (Diamond Tetra) — Seriously Fish

 

Very cool.

I honestly thought I’d done my research with these guys; not sure how I missed the dim tank part.

How often do you suggest I feed?

When I just had the guppies I’d feed every other day; as I found they’d over eat very easily and become constipated.

I’m suspecting that every other day for the tetras won’t cut it though.. Which (may?) be contributing to them nipping the guppies fins? Straw grasping here. Haven’t noticed any nipping at all during the day though - it’s happening overnight.

Thanks muchly

You might find these interesting.

Moenkhausia pittieri (Diamond Tetra) — Seriously Fish

Very cool.

I honestly thought I’d done my research with these guys; not sure how I missed the dim tank part.

How often do you suggest I feed?

When I just had the guppies I’d feed every other day; as I found they’d over eat very easily and become constipated.

I’m suspecting that every other day for the tetraswon’t cut it though.. Which (may?) be contributing to them nipping the guppies fins? Straw grasping here. Haven’t noticed any nipping at all during the day though - it’s happening overnight.

Thanks muchly

 

The Diamonds will do well with Dwarf Neon Rainbows. As long as the Diamonds are eating and otherwise acting normally, your current lighting situation is fine.
The plants are an added bonus for all your fish.

 

The Diamonds will do well with Dwarf Neon Rainbows. As long as the Diamonds are eating and otherwise acting normally, your current lighting situation is fine.
The plants are an added bonus for all your fish.

They spend the day streaking across the tank - one side to the other constantly. To say they’re active is an understatement!

Is that “the norm” for Diamonds?

 

Diamonds are very big, active Tetras. As they mature the diamond sparkling on their sides really stand out. Sounds like your Diamonds are very normal.

 

Diamonds are very big, active Tetras. As they mature the diamond sparkling on their sides really stand out. Sounds like your Diamonds are very normal.

Thank you

 

it’s happening overnight.

I doubt it, both species you have are diurnal. But even during the day you are not always present.