Reclusive Tetra Stays Under Rock - Needs Therapy?

[PaulQ]

I have a Black Skirt Tetra that has taken to hiding under a rock 95% of the time. He just sits under there, almost completely out of sight. He used to swim around a bit but only stayed on one side of the tank. This hiding started about 10 days ago. I can't think of anything that would have caused this and the other fish ignore him.

He eats when he happens to see the food (maybe every other day). He darts out, grabs food and heads right back under the rock.

I do know tetra's are a schooling fish but when I had 3, they all fought so I just returned the other two. Is it a schooling issue that has all of a sudden upset him?

I have the following fish in my tank: 1 angel, 4 zebra danios, 1 pleco and the tetra. It's a 26 gallon tank that is just finishing up the cycling process.

Can I get him to come back out again? Therapy?

Thanks!

 

[VaegaVic]

Black skirts are notorious for nipping each other in small groups, and also nipping anything else, so you're lucky they didn't turn on the angel.

If it wasn't for that angel being in there, I would say go get some more, but as it stands, I'd probably say it's better for him to go to a new home.

 

[LondonguyJ]

I do know tetra's are a schooling fish but when I had 3, they all fought so I just returned the other two. Is it a schooling issue that has all of a sudden upset him?

PaulQ

As it stands you are stressing your tetra and it will eventually die because of this stress. Tetras are schooling fish and should never be kept in schools lower than 5 or else problems like fighting are likely to occur.

The tetra is hiding as a direct result of not being part of a school so I'd advise you to pick up *at least* 4 other black skirt tetras asap!!!

That or return to tetra to the lfs as keeping a schooling fish on it's own is kinda cruel.

J

 

[PaulQ]

I took him back to one of our LFS tonight. I'm not sure I did the right thing. I have only dealt with this store a couple times and there is something not quite right about it. I hope they don't just kill him. I did what I could.

 

[VaegaVic]

I took him back to one of our LFS tonight. I'm not sure I did the right thing. I have only dealt with this store a couple times and there is something not quite right about it. I hope they don't just kill him. I did what I could.

If they can make a profit from him, they're not going to destroy him. I'm sure you did the right thing, it's best for him.