Agressive Tetra

[geoweb20]

We just got an aquarium last weekend, we got 3 fish, 2 of them are tetras, one gold tetra and one black. The gold started charging the black one and will not let her come to the front of the tank. They are all girls. The pet store said to get another black tetra and she may stop. We got another and now she charges both blacks. The other fish she totally ignors. We have a five gallon tank and she has limit the area in which the other two can swim. What should we do now. Another fish but her kind or what. My husband just wants to remove her from the tank and isolate her but I dont think thats a good idea. We are new at this and I am enjoying them but really need to know what is going on with her. thanks!

 

[Corleone]

Tetras and other schooling fish do better in bigger groups. With tetras it's usually recommended to have at least 6 of a species. All tetras have a little bit of aggression and fin nipping in them, but kept in a big enough group they usually contain it to harmless play in their own group.

Unfortunately, with the size tank, you don't really have room for both schools, or even one. You'd probably be best isolating or returning the gold tetra, and see how the black tetras do without the bully, hopefully they won't start doing the same thing.

 

[geoweb20]

Thanks for the help! We will probably take her back since I have no way of isolating her.