My New Neon Tetras Won’t Eat

I’ve seen a lot of people saying that new neon tetras usually take time to “build up courage to eat” but it’s been a few days now and they seem to be used to other fishes, but they still won’t eat.

Here’s the fish I have in my tank
-4 neon tetras
-4 Harlequin Rasboras
-1 female betta

Also, the petsmart lady gave me a neon tetra with a ripped fin. Should I quarantine the him or her?

 

So if this is your 10 gallon, you’re very overstocked. Neither the Tetra nor Rasbora are appropriate for a 10 gallon. Additionally, Bettas like warmer water than them, which you’re doing fine with. Around 80 is optimal for Bettas. Tetra and Rasbora are schooling fish and require at least 6 or more.

As far as your parameters listed on your profile; no amount of ammonia is safe, despite what the test strips oddly tell you. Nitrite is also not safe. The only safe amount of these two are zero. Nitrates are safe up to 20ppm, so 0-20 is just listing the acceptable amount. If you’re listing what your fish store told you, I suggest investing in your own API master test kit.

So to address your problem, it’s probably a mix of the water being too warm and the poor water quality.

 

So if this is your 10 gallon, you’re very overstocked. Neither the Tetra nor Rasbora are appropriate for a 10 gallon. Additionally, Bettas like warmer water than them, which you’re doing fine with. Around 80 is optimal for Bettas. Tetra and Rasbora are schooling fish and require at least 6 or more.

As far as your parameters listed on your profile; no amount of ammonia is safe, despite what the test strips oddly tell you. Nitrite is also not safe. The only safe amount of these two are zero. Nitrates are safe up to 20ppm, so 0-20 is just listing the acceptable amount. If you’re listing what your fish store told you, I suggest investing in your own API master test kit.

So to address your problem, it’s probably a mix of the water being too warm and the poor water quality.

I haven’t updated my parameters in a while so here are the actual parameters:
Ammonium: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
ph: 7.8ish

Also, the neon tetras WILL be moved into a 50 gallon. The heater is set to 78 but it only ever gets to 76. This is because it only turns on every 15 minutes.

I do need to update my account because it is off a little bit.

 

I would recommend getting at least 4 more neon tetras when you transfer them, if you have room. From what I have read and seen in my own tank they do best in bigger groups. I have 14 in a 29 gallon with a few other fish. They love to school and eat together. For the time being or if you can't get more feed them flake food that you pinched tiny. Then if your filter doesn't push the food to mid tank kind of stir it to the middle. Then they should eat it. My tetras only ate at mid tank level for about a month then they started coming to the top more. They still prefer eating at the mid tank level though. They also will only eat Tetra Tropical flakes for some reason. Hope this helps good luck .

 

I would recommend getting at least 4 more neon tetras when you transfer them, if you have room. From what I have read and seen in my own tank they do best in bigger groups. I have 14 in a 29 gallon with a few other fish. They love to school and eat together. For the time being or if you can't get more feed them flake food that you pinched tiny. Then if your filter doesn't push the food to mid tank kind of stir it to the middle. Then they should eat it. My tetras only ate at mid tank level for about a month then they started coming to the top more. They still prefer eating at the mid tank level though. They also will only eat Tetra Tropical flakes for some reason. Hope this helps good luck .

I have some Tetra tropical flakes but never tried to feed them those. I usually feed my fish these other kind of flake food, I’ll try feeding them mid level and I’ll use the tetra tropical flakes.

Thanks!