Badly Behaved Fish...

[Jimbo1984]

Hey. Right, I need to sort this out! I have had to take out 2 male Emperor Tetras from my Rio 125 (as my signature shows), leaving 7 females and a baby male. They were originally both in the 18x12x12" but were fighting so I moved one again. The males have bossed the other fish around and fought ever since I bought them. 3 have died because of this as they developed dropsy. I believe this was due to the stress of being bashed around by the more dominant male at the time. Anyway, they were making life in my Rio 125 stressful for the other fish. They seemed to want to spawn every single day! So now they're on their own in other tanks but it's impractial and unfair, being a shoaling fish, to keep them this way. I've tried tank layout changes, added loads more tall plants etc but I think they're just boisterous and territorial by nature. I'm not quite sure what to do with them. All the Emperor Tetras I see in shops are small, but these are now fully grown making taking them back a no no, do you think? Also, I don't really want to euthanize them for no reason, they're not ill. Although it has been incredibly frustrating! So what do you suggest? Thanks!

 

[Jimbo1984]

Anyone?

 

[darkwolf29a]

Try moving one of them out, and see what happens. Most teteras are bosterous, as you say...but, they should be fine. It may be a male dominance thing, and neither of them are giving up. LOL

Beyond that...I'm not sure what to suggest.

Have you looked up to see how males versus females, etc? That might be something. I know that guppies require 2 females to 1 male...just because of that whole mating thing.

 

[Jimbo1984]

Hey. Yeah 2:1 female to male ratio I read. I have 3 males 7 females. 1 male and 1 female were actually born in the tank and lived under the filter casing out of reach until they were big enough not to get eaten! Maybe it's a family dispute?!?!