Just Bought Two Pristella Tetras

Hello ! I don't exactly know if I'm doing this right, I'm a beginner to this website and to owning tetras.
Now, I've recently bought three new fish; two pristella tetras and one angelfish. I've attempted to read up all I could on both of these fish. My angelfish recently died, though, and I believe it was because I overfed it. It was the size of a nickel and did not show any signs of illnesses at all. When we bought the fish, we were told that they were compatible with each other and would not fight or bump into each other aggressively. After my angelfish's death, I fed the tetras and observed them ( they hadn't eaten in the two days I've had them so I wanted to make sure they ate this time. I have to admit we let the tank cycle for over a week before buying the fish; I tried to buy a PH scale to see if the tank was okay but the cashier told me it would be fine. ) Anyways, after observing them, I noticed that the one with the more vividly orange tail had a bit of it's fins ripped. I posted a picture of them onto reddit yesterday to learn what their name was, and in that picture they seemed fine. The fish with the more orange tail has half of its top half ripped, and its dorsal fin is rugged and also slightly ripped. My other tetra's tail is a bit rugged, but it's not ripped at all; its dorsal fin is very rugged though.

I'm just wondering what the cause of this could be; did the angelfish nip at them at all? Will they nip at eachother? We plan on buying another fish again soon and would like to know what our best choices are. I've been researching all I can to make sure I can meet the needs of these fish. I've read that tetras need to be in groups of six; are my two unhappy together? My main question is; are they nipping/fighting each other or are they ill? If anyone needs me to post a picture I would be kind to, here is the photo I took yesterday when they were fine; you can't see the orange tailed tetra as much but you can see the other one;

 

Sounds like a uncycled tank. How long has it been running?
Water conditioner?
Test stripes are pointless and inaccurate. API liquid test kit is the way to know your true readings.

As for your fish. They are school fish so when they are not in school they are not happy. I'm not experience with this fish but I know tetras can be nippy! Lol

 

The tank has been up and running without fish for two weeks and two days, we've been using API stress coat.

I kind of feel bad for the tetra now, I had a feeling that we should've gotten more of them rather than get the angelfish. If we were to get enough tetra to have a school, we'd most likely have to upgrade the tank, and I don't believe we have money for that right now. Now that I'm watching them more, I've noticed them bumping into each other, I never would've expected that after hearing Pristellas were peaceful. My dad told me we can't get a school of tetra, but we can get two more; would you happen to know if that would cause a problem, or make them happy? Also, we can't get more fish for a week, do they have a chance of surviving?

Also, thank you for the help ! We will definitely look into getting a test kit and more tetras. My family thinks it's silly of me to not want the fish to die, but I feel like a bad parent for not knowing these things.

 

Welcome to Fishlore! This is a good place to get advice on how to get started. I will start until others better at this come along.

What size is your tank?

I'm pretty sure your tank is not cycled... Please read about the nitrogen cycle and how to go about cycling the tank. You need the API Master test kit and to keep up with the ammonia, pH, nitrites and nitrates. Seachem Prime is a good water conditioner you need to use daily and after water changes. You could add Stability to help your tank cycle faster. It's usually not good to add more fish to an un cycled tank.

I have pristella tetras, they are not nippy, they are nice little fish.

People will come along come to help you in more detail soon. If the 2 fish you have don't make it, you might rather do a fish less cycle.

Good luck and don't get discouraged.

 

Be glad to help. What size is your tank? 5 should be fine. Not sure they are good cycle fish but if you don't want to return or donate them increasing the school will help.

First I buy Prime. Treating your tank with prime will detoxify ammonia and nitrites. Any levels of these stress fish and cause them to eventually die.

Since your tank is not cycled. I would buy Stability to help seed your filter with beneficial bacteria. This will help keep your fish alive through a cycle process. Follow the directions on the bottle and 2 weeks later you will be good.

Until you are cycled, Daily water changes if not ever other day is needed. 25% only.
Once you are cycled 50% once a week.

 

I have 6 pristella tetra and want to add 3 more, they like to be if groups of 8-10. I have not found mine to be nippy. I have had bleeding hearts that have been nippy though.

 

My tank is a 5.
Alright, I understand what both of you are saying. My dad is usually the one to take me to get these things so I will make sure he knows everything we need to get and why we get it ( if he doesn't know why he usually won't buy it ).

From what I understand, or think I understand, my tank is not cycled. I need to perform 25% water changes every day, and I need a few supplies; I have a question though. Is the API stress coat like prime, or are they different? Would I be better off with prime? I understand that I need the API water test kit and the stability. Also, I wanna know if I'm getting this right; after performing the water changes, I should be putting a drop or few of the prime or API stress coat into the tank, right?

Also, to those of you who have pristella tetras, how often do you feed them? I've been wondering and searching, but nothing gives me an exact answer; most websites don't even give me an answer at all.

I feel bad for the tetras now, I definitely would've waited if I had known all of this. I hope they will live through all of this, I'd gladly work hard to get a successful tank.

 

API will dechlorinate harmful chemicals. Metals too. But it does not convert low levels of ammonia and nitrites into a nontoxic form. Prime does it instantly protecting your fish. No need to mix them.

You can't really over dose prime either. You can 5x the dose of your tank volume. When your nitrites spike this will help. Directions on the bottle help.

5G. Is way to small for so many fish. Not sure tetras will like it.

This method help me save all my fish I bought before I learn the nitrogen cycle.

Ammonia and Nitrites above 1.0ppm=
Water change 25%. Dose prime and stability. Test 24hrs later

If they are below 1.0ppm you can dose prime and stability. Test 24hrs later

2 weeks later I had 0.25,0,10

 

Alright I understand what you mean. We plan on buying a 10G tank, would that be big enough? I understand that tetras need area to swim, and I would like to provide that for them.

Also, is there anything I can do for the fish to up their chance of surviving until I get the necessary supplies to successfully cycle the tank? Or do I just have to hope that water changes will help them?

 

A 10 gallon is too small! You need a 20 gallon long! I suggest returning the tetras also since they could possibly die due to an uncycle tank. We will help walk you through the steps of cycling a tank.

Here is the link for the only fish you can have in a 10 gallon: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/stocking-list-for-10-gallons.207629/

If you have time I suggest you read this: https://www.fishlore.com/freshwater-aquarium-book.pdf

 

Introducing prime saved all my fish. Daily testing and water changes. I know we have been giving you a hard time so my apologies. Cant help you with stocking for am still new to this but cycling I feel very comfortable.

I'm in the process of creating a 37 gallon tetra tank. Xrays are on my list

 

Honestly not much can be done with a 5 gallon tank it's so small and can't accommodate a school of pristella tetras anyway. Might be better to take them back and start over. If you are able to make a larger commitment money and time wise, a 20 gallon would be better in the long run. It would give you room to have a nice school of tetras and a few other fish and would be easier to keep the water stable and healthy for your fish once it is cycled.

As for right now, feed the fish just a little bit a pinch of flake food once a day, you want to feed lightly until the tank I'd cycled. Get a bottle of Prime to use to detoxify ammonia and nitrites daily. Use Stability and your test kit as mentioned before.

 

Problem of schooling fish : they need to be in a proper school.
I think it is a shame the LFS sold you only two and an angel for a 5 G. I'd rehome the angel btw