Scared Of The Light?

[sparky_555]

Hi, i have had 3 black widow tetras in my cycling tank for about 2 weeks now, and still every time i turn the light on they quickly hide under a plant or something. I put 4 bronze cory's in today and they are totally fine with the light on.

Is there anything wrong?

Thanks

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How many gallons is the tank? The tetras will feel a lot more secure if you add to their numbers and buy some more plants to bulk out the hiding places in it for the fish a bit; black widow tetras are shoaling fish, in the wild they rely on their large numbers to act as defense against predators, so they naturally feel insecure and stressed when in too smaller numbers.
Depending on the gallons of the tank and how far you are into the cycle as well as what sort of ammonia, nitrite and nitrates stats you have been getting recently, i would add another 3 to their numbers .

 

[sparky_555]

its a 20 gallon tank, i cant give you the stats now because i was going to buy a test kit today when i bought the 4 cory's but i didnt have enough cash on me. But i will buy one soon.

 

[TammyLiz]

Ehh, if you're cycling the tank with fish and haven't added any mature filter media to the tank, I would not add any other fish for probably another month. It would have been better if you had waited on the cories as well. Three plus four is a big jump, especially so soon in the cycle because there is a good chance that none of the wastes are being cycled out at all yet. Most likely the ammonia and/or nitrites are high in the tank and you should do a few water changes to get them down. Your fish store may test your water for you if you take some in. The one time I did a fish cycle and waited for bacteria to catch up without mature media I had three white clouds in a 10 gallon and it took 7 weeks before I could add more fish.

 

[sparky_555]

i have added some filter media from my dads tank, which has been running for about 8 months, i'm doing water changes about twice a week. And all of the fish seem fine. But the black widows are still hiding every time the light goes on, they swim around happily when the light is off though.

 

[Chri$]

i have added some filter media from my dads tank, which has been running for about 8 months, i'm doing water changes about twice a week. And all of the fish seem fine. But the black widows are still hiding every time the light goes on, they swim around happily when the light is off though.

How young are they?

 

[sparky_555]

I dont realy know, my dad had them for about a month before giving them to me. Before that they were at the pet shop.