List of aggressive Tetra species for beginners

I wanted to create an informative list of the more common tetra species for beginners that would require more caution when stocking a community tank. A lot of beginners are typically unaware of the range of temperament between tetra species and with a lot of chain stores out there selling them and not educating the beginning aquarist, just assume they're all peaceful, which is obviously not the case. Please feel free to add to the list if I'm missing any species that should be on this list.

Very aggressive:
Bucktooth Tetra - species only tank and *not* a community fish! This fish shouldn't even be called a tetra.

Semi-aggressive or nippy even in adequate shoals:
Diamond Tetra
Red Eye Tetra
Blue Tetra (Knodus borki)
Serpae Tetra
Black Skirt Tetra
Silvertip Tetra
Colombian Tetra
Buenos Aires Tetra
Penguin Tetra (all Thayeria species)
Blue Emperor Tetra (Inpaichthys kerri)

Somewhat nippy:
Congo Tetra (rare cases, but mostly amongst conspecifics)
Lemon Tetra
Green Fire Tetra (rare cases)
Blind Cave Tetra (due to being blind, a technique for searching for food)

 

My kerris are not aggressive or nippy.

 

This is just a general list. If there are any reports of aggression or nippiness in a species, or a reputation of such, either firsthand or from others, I put it on the list. I've watched Kerris at my LFS I frequent, and could say differently.... they aren't the most tranquil fish. In your tank they may not be a problem, but I have also read other sources on the internet that say they aren't the best community fish to have either. The same argument could be made for some of the other species I listed.

 

Why are Silver Dollars and Red Hooks on your Tetra list? Besides not being tetras they are probably the most timid fish I have ever kept.

Tetras are one of the fish varieties that react more to their environment. While skirts are said to be nippy I kept 13 in my 90G and never once had issues. When they started dwindling in numbers I move them into a 30G where they became holy terrors.

I have had similar experiences with other tetras. The larger the school and the larger the tank the better community fish they became.

 

I'm with Dena - why are Silver Dollars on the list? They are not semi-aggressive or nippy.

 

To elaborate on catsma's post, most schooling fish have the potential to be aggressive or nippy, though some, like silver dollars, just arnt, bottom line. Most of the time it falls into environmental factors. Poor nutrition may cause the fish to seek nutrition from the fins of other fish, Small school numbers will make a fish scared or jumpy which can lead them to be aggressive or nippy towards any fish that spooks them, too many numbers in a small space(cramping) will make a fish crabby.

 

I have Silver Dollars and Red Hooks on there because some people (beginning aquarists) get them confused with tetras, especially when they are juveniles. I have heard people ask at pet stores. Also because they will predate on smaller fish (hence, semi-aggressive, not aggressive with other fish) if a beginner decided to stock them with neon tetras or something.

I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have started this thread. I was trying to post what I thought would be useful information for beginners and I didn't realize it was going to start a debate with experienced aquarists.

 

I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have started this thread. I was trying to post what I thought would be useful information for beginners and I didn't realize it was going to start a debate with experienced aquarists.

As much as we would love to say, "great info, awesome list" it needs work, and that's why we are telling you these things. Take the advice given and incorporate it into the OP to make it better. That's the point of us posting here.

 

I was merily staeing my experience as I have recomended them to other people, I would not however take what you see in a pet store as normal behavior for any fish.

I have a school of 10 kerris, at one point the number dwendled down to 5 though, and I still saw no nippyness. I know other members here have them and I would be intrested to hear what they have experienced with them, if I am the only one who does not have issues with them, then I would want to know so I don't recommend something that won't work.

 

I've never kept my Silver Dollars with smaller Tetras, so I can't say for sure if they will eat them. Mine are so timid. I can't see them doing that. That would be weird.

 

As much as we would love to say, "great info, awesome list" it needs work, and that's why we are telling you these things. Take the advice given and incorporate it into the OP to make it better. That's the point of us posting here.

I did not say what I said with any bad intent.

I am already aware that Silver Dollars are not aggressive to other fish, but there is a potential for them to eat smaller fish, especially if a beginner buys them as juveniles (thinking they're adults and unaware of their adult size) along with smaller fish. That is the only reason they are on the list.

 

None of my post was negativity intended towards you . The thing about Silver Dollars is that they are herbivorous for the most part. I can't see them eating even a small fish, they would spit it out normally anyways. Now, Angle fish, may not be tetra but do belong on the list as they will eat small fish. I think the thread just needs a name change, you could just make it a list of "fish to be wary of" that way you can include barbs, boras, cichlids and the like.

 

This thread has been edited to remove the inappropriate comments. Please give feedback or make comments that are on the subject of this thread and not to degrade the intent of the original post.

Now, as far as Silver Dollars go, mine are currently housed with White Cloud Mountain Minnows and there are no issues. Silvers are herbivores and will destroy any live plant you think of adding to a tank, but they will leave even the smallest of fish alone. Heck mine even destroy silk plants! They can be destructive, but not in ways intended with the purpose of this thread.

 

I think the thread just needs a name change, you could just make it a list of "fish to be wary of" that way you can include barbs, boras, cichlids and the like.

The reason I used only tetras on the list and not other families of fish is because generally speaking you know what typical behaviors to expect from different genera of fish. Cichlids as a family behave a certain way, barbs another way, rasboras another, etc.... with tetras it tends to be quite a bit broader spectrum of behavior since these characins are related to piranhas, tigerfish, and other aggressive predatory species. Bucktooth tetras are a perfect example. They are (technically speaking) a tetra, and in the public's uninformed, inexperienced eye, somebody could purchase this fish from a chain store (thinking it's a tetra, what's the harm?) not knowing a thing about them, in the same way they would purchase a cute little juvenile Pacu not knowing what to expect. And I have seen Bucktooth Tetras for sale at chain stores.... more than one mind you. This is why I didn't include cyprinids, anabantoids, catfish or cichlids.

I went ahead and removed Silver Dollars and Red Hooks from the list after feedback I received from everybody in this thread. Thanks for your input.

 

Personally, I think this thread is fine. The lists are somewhat debatable, but a lot of things are in the aquarium world, which is why you need to do A LOT of research. My Black Skirt Tetras don't nip anyone outside of their school, but someone with another tank may have nipping issues (as Dena said).

Everyone needs to make sure they realize the repercussions they could face if they buy these fish. The fish may or may not be peaceful in your tank, while someone else has completely different results with the same type of fish.

Thanks for the list, Myriad!

 

i've also had kerrI tetras, and at no point in their lives were they nippy. just saying =] and i've never kept diamond tetras....but never heard of them being potentially nippy either. not saying they couldn't be....just surprised to see them on the list

 

I ended up having to put them on the list from personal experience due to a few rogue fish. And since they are in the same genus as Red Eyes, it seemed fitting to put them on the list as well.

 

Another thread just reminded me, my kerris have nipped, but not other fish, only my arm during gravel vacs.

 

I use to have the same thing happen with the Odessa Barbs I use to have. I had one male that would always "attack" my arm. I think he was trying to play since he was an adolescent.

 

My Lemon Tetras were definitely nippy - so glad to see them on the list. When doing research, I didn't find data that said they were nippy... I wish I had.

 

How about giving us the info the other way around? In other words, which tetras are gentle and compatible?

I have some neons and glow lights. I'm looking to add a third type, especially if there is a gentle type which likes mid to upper aquarium living. Any suggestions??

 

Black Neons are gentle and generally occupy mid to upper aquarium levels. They also make a nice contrast to regular Neons.

 

I have a tetra and a balloon molly, I just got a slivertip tetra because I know that tetras want to school with other tetras. I asked the person at the pet store if tetras will school with other species of tetras (I am not sure what species the other tetra is but it is not aggressive at all) can someone confirm this or is that wrong information? Also how aggressive are slivertip tetras they were marked as community on the tank (I will probably start to do research on the fish I want to get after this) Do you think the slivertip will kill my balloon molly or my other tetra (or any other fish I may happen to get)?

 

diamond tetras are absoloutyl stunning if your tank is big enough as the get big for tetras

 

I have a tetra and a balloon molly, I just got a slivertip tetra because I know that tetras want to school with other tetras. I asked the person at the pet store if tetras will school with other species of tetras (I am not sure what species the other tetra is but it is not aggressive at all) can someone confirm this or is that wrong information? Also how aggressive are slivertip tetras they were marked as community on the tank (I will probably start to do research on the fish I want to get after this) Do you think the slivertip will kill my balloon molly or my other tetra (or any other fish I may happen to get)?

unfortunately the type of tetra you have (silver tip tetra) requires a minimum size of 20 gallon. I would suggest returning that silver tip tetra and getting yourself a school of Neon tetras or Ember tetras that would do better in a 10 gallon tank.

Tetras are schooling fish meaning they need to be in a group of 5+, Tetras can be nippy if kept inadequate schools.

 

The Embers are really cute bright orange tetras and only grow a max of 1 inch. They need to have at least 5 in their school. I have 6 embers, 5 glowlights, 8 barbs, 8 zebra danios and they all seem to get along.

 

unfortunately the type of tetra you have (silver tip tetra) requires a minimum size of 20 gallon. I would suggest returning that silver tip tetra and getting yourself a school of Neon tetras or Ember tetras that would do better in a 10 gallon tank.

Tetras are schooling fish meaning they need to be in a group of 5+, Tetras can be nippy if kept inadequate schools.

I just got a 55 gallon tank the reason I didn't update my status yet is because the 55 gallon is still going through the nitrogen cycle and I am going to put all the fish (including the slivertip) in the 55 gallon once it is done. Is it ok to leave it in the 10 gallon for a little while? Oh and also I do plan to get more tetras after a while the reason I am not doing it right away is just to let my old fish adjust to the new tank)

 

Totally fine to leave your fish in the 10 gallon until your 55 gallon is done. Then I would suggest to buy more Silver tip tetras to get a proper school once the 55 gallon is done cycling. I would slowly stock your 55 once it gets cycled so the bacteria can build up gradually as you increase your fish.

 

Totally fine to leave your fish in the 10 gallon until your 55 gallon is done. Then I would suggest to buy more Silver tip tetras to get a proper school once the 55 gallon is done cycling. I would slowly stock your 55 once it gets cycled so the bacteria can build up gradually as you increase your fish.

Ok thanks for the help, will the silvertips keep to themselves because I would like to have a community tank but I can't if the silvertips keep killing every other fish?

 

yes if you have a proper school. They are friendly fish once they have friends.

 

yes if you have a proper school. They are friendly fish once they have friends.

Sweet thanks I didn't want to have to return it or worry about my other fish


--Edit--

Do you know if my other tetra will going their group?

 

I appreciate the thread. I, as you stated, thought all tetras were pretty much peaceful schoolers. I would have liked to have this list 10 years ago. Anyways, it looks like you have a lot of experienced silver dollar aquarists on here, and none of them have seen an aggressive silver dollar. I, on the other hand, have seen one. Perhaps because he wasn't in a school, or too small of a tank. We had one in a ten gallon tank, and any other fish we put in there would end up dead after about a week. I started watching, and sure enough the silver dollar was chasing them around nipping at them. My LFS took him in on trade for a couple of guppies, and they lived happily ever after. One year later, and they are still doing great.

Also, there are many fish available for fishkeeping. I think it is great that you put up a list for newbies to see potential problems up front. Even if all of the experienced aquarists are not seeing what you are doing, it is great that you are doing it. With Silver dollars on the list, I don't think there are going to be a shortage of people keeping silver dollars. If anything, the experienced ones can keep them. ;-)