Medaka Fish Fin-nipping

Hello, at monday I bought 6 Medaka fish and two nerite snails for my 8 gallon aquarium. At first only one of them was chasing others around and nipped on other ones tail. I changed a bit of water, turned off light moved the filter inflow stick to the corner to lower the water flow as they prefer still waters (my filter doesn't have the option to lower the flow). It seemed to help for the rest of the day yesterday. But today the are all snapping on each other and one is missing quiet large piece of her tail and other two also miss smaller parts. They are schooling fish, however, they don't act like it. We thought about moving the biggest one that stared the snapping into a bowl (I am new to this hobby, I have only this one aquarium) but I am afraid it would die soon. Do you think there is anything I can do?

Would buying more of them help them to feel more comfortable? I thought about adding a betta fish to them or some fantail guppies, but I am afraid they would be just easy target at this point.

Thank you very much for any responses

 

Most times when fish are natural nippers, adding more of the same fish would help. But I wouldn't add a guppy or betta because those long fins would just be ripped apart. I've never kept rice fish, so my help might be limited.

 

If I had to guess I would say you have too many males vs females and it could be competition over the few females. If your going to add anything up their numbers and hopefully it will help out.

 

My orange rice fish do not school.
Do you have a lot of plants and cover in your tank? What temperature is the tank at?

 

My orange rice fish do not school.
Do you have a lot of plants and cover in your tank? What temperature is the tank at?

This is what my tank looks like. I do plan to get a tall thicker plant for them so they can hide bit more and also I read they like plants floating on top so I want to get such too, but I could not find it yet ( I was in 5 shops lol). My temperature is always between 72.5F and 74.3F .

This is what my tank looks like. I do plan to get a tall thicker plant for them so they can hide bit more and also I read they like plants floating on top so I want to get such too, but I could not find it yet ( I was in 5 shops lol). My temperature is always between 72.5F and 74.3F .

I also have drift wood which is soaking in a bucket as what that's what I was adviced to do wit it at first. I had it in the bucket already since friday.

 

I think that's a cute set up you have there. Plenty of hiding spaces, but are there more spaces in the other side?

 

I think that's a cute set up you have there. Plenty of hiding spaces, but are there more spaces in the other side?

Good catch, it actually does seems as if the biggest fish is pushing the other ones on the less planted side of the tank allt he time. She seems to be territorial about the big-leafed plant. Also, the fish which has quiet large part of tail bitten off (lets say 1/5th) is not swimming, it hid between a leaf and glass and is just on one spot and looks kind of tired, her back is arched. I kind of feel like it is not going to make it over night. Any suggestions? Leave it or?

 

I'm not sure that the one with it's tail will live or die. I've seen fish like my dad's cherry barbs have its tail bitten off (no fins left) and recover after the fish was removed. But I'm not sure I can make that call. How attached to them are you?

I guess I would HEAVILY plant the tank and break up line of sight with plants.

 

I guess I would HEAVILY plant the tank and break up line of sight with plants.

I will go to pet shop tomorrow morning to get more plants. Well, it is my first fishes and I really wanted to 'get them right' ^^ But I guess no research can compare to a real experience So I think I will see what happens after I change their environment and perhaps buy more of the same type fish tomorrow. Also a friend suggested to get frozen food for them, like mosqueto larvas ... the aquarist in the shop gave me only flake food when I told him I also need the right food for them ... maybe they are hungry

 

That's a really nice tank and well done for these guys. I was going to suggest that you unplug the heater but I see you don't have one. Obviously that is just fine, these guys like 60*-70*f. Extra plants might help. I cube shape has me worried. They can't get very far away from the aggressor. Good luck.

 

I will go to pet shop tomorrow morning to get more plants. Well, it is my first fishes and I really wanted to 'get them right' ^^ But I guess no research can compare to a real experience So I think I will see what happens after I change their environment and perhaps buy more of the same type fish tomorrow. Also a friend suggested to get frozen food for them, like mosqueto larvas ... the aquarist in the shop gave me only flake food when I told him I also need the right food for them ... maybe they are hungry

Dwarf Sage would be helpful, I'd think. It grows into a nice carpet and they could also hide well in it when it fully grows out. You'll just have to pull it out occasionally. Looks like this;

 

That's a really nice tank and well done for these guys. I was going to suggest that you unplug the heater but I see you don't have one. Obviously that is just fine, these guys like 60*-70*f. Extra plants might help. I cube shape has me worried. They can't get very far away from the aggressor. Good luck.

I will definitely work on planting more thicker plants tomorrow and also I think I will put the drift wood in and but them bigger variety of food. I think it is the best chance I can give them. Thank you everyone for your input and advice I appreciate it!

Dwarf Sage would be helpful, I'd think. It grows into a nice carpet and they could also hide well in it when it fully grows out. You'll just have to pull it out occasionally. Looks like this;View attachment 414692

Thank you so much for the suggestion!

 

Frozen foods and blanched veggies (not sure if rice fish eat veggies) but that might help with aggression.

 

Just an update,

thank you everyone for help again . I bought them some extra fast growing plant and gave them a drift wood in and bought them mosquito larvae and they loved the new food and even the plant and wood!! (even though I overfed them with the larvae first time- it was hard to estimate the dose, but I got it now ) They keep chasing each other but there is no more actual nipping anymore I think the primary problem is more males than females but I cannot say for sure because I cannot distinguish between them ompous:. But they are getting used to each other and to the tank.
And most importantly, all fishes made it through and the tails seem to be healing fine AND I even have a new tiiiiny baby Mystery nail which sneaked in on my new plant

 

Glad to hear they are settling into the tank.

 

It's a mystery? Neat. I always end up with pond snails and ramshorn snails. Lucky you man. I'm glad they settled down. Pictures?

 

It's a mystery? Neat. I always end up with pond snails and ramshorn snails. Lucky you man. I'm glad they settled down. Pictures?

Ok, I must admit I did not know there were more snails XD I keep hearing only of those two kinds so maybe I misnamed it And actually I found another baby snail in there One has a dark kind of pointy shell and the other has yellowish shell. They both have heads out of shell that, so that was my sorting hint haha

 

It's a mystery? Neat. I always end up with pond snails and ramshorn snails. Lucky you man. I'm glad they settled down. Pictures?

Sorry, I meant to also upload these I still want some floating plants but I can't find them. Also the fishes keep pulling the tiny plants in the right front out of the stones so I'm thinking about replacing them for something bigger

 

They are pond snails. I'd remove them asap. They have a habit of overpopulating REALLY quickly. They eat algae and decaying stuff, but just overrun tanks.

 

They are pond snails. I'd remove them asap. They have a habit of overpopulating REALLY quickly. They eat algae and decaying stuff, but just overrun tanks.

Now, that's bad news But I am really excited about the babies XD Do you think I could keep them for a bit before ... how would you get rid of them I mean is there some 'nice way'? A friend has a big goldfishes and he said I could give them to him for the fish to eat if there gets too many. Do you think I could wait couple of weeks? I mean they are just babies? ummy1:

 

They can get about an inch long, add to your bioload and make these jelly sacks of eggs. You'll end up with tons of them soon.

 

They can get about an inch long, add to your bioload and make these jelly sacks of eggs. You'll end up with tons of them soon.

Thank you :S I will take action then