Problem With Neon's

[GOT FISH?]

I have 8 neon's in a 10g US tank....And they will not school, got one that is bullying the rest constantly....Do I need to add more fish or get rid on the one bad one

 

[goldencomet]

I'm not too sure on this, but I think fish only school when they feel in danger, so it's not too bad if i'm right

 

[Fishkrazy1]

Neons tend to school very nicely... however if one of your neons is the odd man out so to speak, then he is stressed out for some reason, try testing your water before you add anymore fish. If you're going to add anymore fish to the tank go for 3 panda cory cats they stay small and look ohh sooo cute

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

As other have said, neons tend to only school when they feel threatened or stressed. If your water quality is good (it should be 0 ammonia and nitrites, and between 1 and 39 nitrates)and the tank is not overstocked (what other fish do you have in there?) then i would not worry about it too much.

 

[GOT FISH?]

there are no other fish in the tank...

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

there are no other fish in the tank...

A small amount of agression between a few neons can sometimes be an indicator of breeding behaviour in neons if your tank conditions are very good and you have a good and regular tank cleaning regime. However the success rate of neons breeding is very small in the average aquarium.
Agression can also be brought on in neons when they are put under stressful conditions, however you don't seem to have anything obvious at current which would cause such conditions.

 

[GOT FISH?]

Just the neoms in there, but there are 5 med and 3 small....That was all the store had at the time...I would like to put some cardinals, or black neons in there also///If the water conditoins stay right, how many more small guys can get in there...Kevin

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Just the neoms in there, but there are 5 med and 3 small....That was all the store had at the time...I would like to put some cardinals, or black neons in there also///If the water conditoins stay right, how many more small guys can get in there...Kevin

Are you using US gallons or UK gallons and what are the dimensions of the tank (length, width, height)?

 

[GOT FISH?]

not sure of dim off hand but 10 US gallons

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

not sure of dim off hand but 10 US gallons

You should measure the tank up and post the dimensions here as it could be more or less gallons than what you think- in such a small tank, every gallon counts.

 

[GOT FISH?]

20"X10"X12.5"

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Its just over 10gals (10.83 US gal.) but probably closer to 10gals when you count in other factors like substrate and things taking up water space in the tank. I personally wouldn't add anymore shoaling fish- you would need at least 6 to have a decent shoal, and that would make the tank too crowded and would also technically be overstocked.
You could opt for some small shrimp (like cherry or amano shrimp) or corys (like panda or pygmy corys) for the bottom of the tank or even something like an african dwarf frog though .

 

[GOT FISH?]

Thanks for all the help, the tank is my 4 yr old girls/////I like the cory's, but what is the problem with the barbels

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thanks for all the help, the tank is my 4 yr old girls/////I like the cory's, but what is the problem with the barbels

Basically corys sense their food with their barbels, which are those delicate whisker like things coming out of the corys mouth. If you put corys on a rough gravel or sharp sand substrate they can damage their barbels looking for food, which can then lead to nasty bacterial infections (which often eat away at the barbels, completely destroying them over time- if left untreated, the cory will either die of starvation or things like blood poisening from the untreated barbel infection).

Sand is the best substrate for corys, it tends to be very soft and will allow the corys to perform natural feeding behavior (they pass the sand through the mouth and out under the gill plates, sifting out tiny particles of food as they do this) . I personally have fine white silica sand in my tanks which i got from my local fish store/lfs, but you can just as easily buy some childrens play sand and thoroughly wash it out and put that in the tank instead as well .

 

[GOT FISH?]

just put sand in my tank, didn't think about the putting some in hers....