My Youngest Neon Tetras Are Being Aggressive

[JBlacksmith]

Ever since the tank bullies got moved out, my three littlest neon tetras are being aggressive and beating on each other along with the other neons. I had two fish die because their mouths appeared to have been nipped off, and I suspect it may be the neons. I assumed they were being aggressive because they were hungry (they wouldn't surface for food because the previous bullies patrolled the top) so I started feeding them frozen brine shrimp which sinks pretty quickly, but they are still being aggressive. What can I do?

 

[fluttermoth]

how many neons do you have, what size is your tank and what other fish (and how many) do you have?

 

[JBlacksmith]

I have eight neons, five harlequin rasboras (a couple died so they don't really have a school right now), and one bristlenose pleco all in a thirty eight gallon tank.

 

[JBlacksmith]

Forgive me if I come across sounding ignorant, but is it possible my neons are breeding?

 

[fluttermoth]

Unlikely to be breeding behaviour. It sounds like 'normal' dominance behaviour, tbh.
 
Probably the best way to resolve the issue, in this case, is to add a few more neons, although a shoal of eight would normally be large enough to prevent this sort of thing.