One Of My Black Skirts Has Been Hiding

Hey all.

I have a 36 gallon planted community tank with 10 peppered corys, 8 black skirt tetras, a dwarf gourami, and bladder snails. Parameters have been stable, and aside from some light chasing everyone seems to be getting along fine.

However, today I noticed some weird behavior from one of my black skirts - its been hiding. The other seven are out and about like normal, and everyone was out this morning for feeding time. However, this single black skirt is in hiding under a fake tree stump type ornament.

My light schedule has a two hour break midday, and this black skirt came out with the rest of the school during this lights out period. But when the lights just came on it went back to hiding while the rest of the school is out and about like normal. I should also note that they all have nice dark black skirts, so they don't seem to be stressed.

As I said, parameters are good - no ammonia or nitrites, and nitrates are between 10 and 20. It does seem to be significantly chunkier than the others, could it be a gravid female?

 

She (?) could be carrying eggs but if she is I would think she'd be with the rest of the school so she can spawn. They spawn in schools. Its more likely she's not feeling well. Try some boiled de-shelled peas. It will help the digestive system.

 

She (?) could be carrying eggs but if she is I would think she'd be with the rest of the school so she can spawn. They spawn in schools. Its more likely she's not feeling well. Try some boiled de-shelled peas. It will help the digestive system.

If it isn't feeling well, would that be consistent with it coming out with the rest of the school when the lights went out?

It would make sense though - the black skirts are complete hogs, and often snatch the sinking pellets I drop in for the corys.

 

Yes when I'm sick I keep the lights low. When fish are sick a lot of times they hide because predators kill the week and sick. It probably feels safer with the lights out.

 

Yes when I'm sick I keep the lights low. When fish are sick a lot of times they hide because predators kill the week and sick. It probably feels safer with the lights out.

That makes sense. Thank you. I'll fast them for now, and pick up some peas in the morning.

 

Once a week fasting is a good idea anyway. Not only is it good for the fish it also helps clean up the leftovers.

 

As an update, the formerly hiding Tetra came out close to feeding time. After comparing them to pictures of black skirts online I do believe that several of them are fat pigs. Anyone have tips on how I can feed the rest of the tank's inhabitants without the tetras snatching it all up? I already drop the pellets for the corys simultaneously with the tetras' flakes at opposite ends of the tank, but the tetras still manage to snatch some pellets. They also seem to grab everything a lot quicker than the poor gourami.