Has to be the weidest thing ever...

I have three mollies, four platies, three cories, a BN pleco, and six serpae tetra. I posted a few days ago about how they all seemed like they were going to kill eachother (the tetras that is). Now all my peaceful community fish have gone haywire and are bullying the tetras! This cannot be normal, even the cories and pleco attack them. They will be moving to the 10 gallon until I can figure out a better solution. Does this seem odd to anyone else? Advice please? I plan on more plants but cannot get to town for a few days.

 

Your fish are probably acting out because they are not in appropriate size schools. You never see typical species behavior when there are just a few of these and a few of those.

Mollies, I'd up to 5. I "think" there's a male/female ratio you need to stick with. Don't know what it is.

Platies, I'd up to 6.

Cories, I'd up to at least 5, same species.

Pleco is fine.

Tetras do best in larger schools. I'd up your serpaes to 8.

As long as your water parameters are fine, the fish should calm down. Be sure to have decor and plants that break their line of sight. This helps fish feel safe. A wide open tank does not offer them this same peace.

Don't move any fish for now. As an emergency move, just change around your existing decor.

 

If you do get live plants, you may wish to QT them. Nasties can hitchhike on them and infect your main tank.

 

Also, you might want to upgrade to an API master kit for testing. The strips are worthless.

 

I wish I could up the number in their groups but I think my tank capacity is maxed out, it's a 29 gallon. There are already 17 I don't think I could get away with adding eight more. They were all happy and nonagressive until I added the tetras. I'm thinking I may have to rehome them as I don't have the money to upgrade tank size. I just don't know anyone else with fish and I hate to take them back to Petsmart...

I keep forgetting to update my info I do have an API master test kit. My water parameters are all in range. Last checked I was at 7.6 ph, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 5 nitrate (two days ago I think).

 

Serpaes can be nasty and emit nasty vibes if kept in too small a group. Up just that group and see what happens.

 

I aslo think your tank is pretty stocked as is. your fish may just be getting in each others way. I don't think upping their numbers is going to solve the problem. sounds like the rest of the tank is standing up to the bullies.
A picture of your tank would be helpful to see if there is enough cover. you can also throw a couple fake plants/decor in there as well if you can't get acces to live plants(that would need to be decent sized to provide cover).
I have to disagree on QTing live plants, just give a really good rinse off or a dip of the roots to get rid of most of hitchhikers/snail eggs.
good luck

 

I agree with what LindaB said-- upping the number of one species at first and see what happens. Your tank can support the extra fish.

As for quarantining plants, I do. I also submerse in a weak ammonia solution for several minutes before placing into the main tank. A rinse under chlorinated water will unfortunately not kill hitch-hikers.

Good luck!

 

I had problems with my serpaes buggin other fish when they got down to only three left. I have 10 now and everybody seems to be hunky dory.

 

My plants go in their own tank for quite a while before they ever get to the main tank. I give them a good looking over in a shallow dish of water to catch snails and eggs and then they go to the plant qt/shrimp habitat. Then they wait to make sure no snails show up that I might have missed. Usually I take clippings from that tank to plant in my main tank. That way no snails ever get near the main tank and I always have a backup of my plants in case anything dies off or I decide I need more. Speaking of which I need to dig around in there and see if there is anymore blyxa japonica down in there since my GBR decided it was tasty

 

Thanks everyone, I think I will try adding more cover before fish. They have two caves and 7 fake plants already but maybe they will get happier. I would like to get some real plants but am not sure what to get. I'll just have to keep watching them until I get to town.