So Anxious...don't Know Whether I'm Doing The Right Thing.

[Miss Wiggle]

Nice Pic Miss Wiggle...was that when you were on your holidays

Anyway, I didn't buy another fish....its a week on and all of them seem ok...I am watching one lad though who appears to have something on his tail....it looks like perhaps a tiny chunk was taken out it.

I notice the biggest fish is bullying the others....perhaps he nipped this fish?

(This big fish is bully the others alot actually...he's always chasing the others around the tank and showing aggressive behaviour...I'm wondering if this had something to do with my other fish dying as he was the weakest???)

Anyway, I'll watch the smaller fish for another few days in case the tail thing develops into anything.

Yup, next to the lovely Lewis Hamilton's McLaren Mercedes F1 Car....... Just about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life!! If your interested in F1 there's a load of pics in the non-fish photo's section.

yeah a bully fish could definately have contributed to the weak one's death. Unlikely to have attacked and killed him but if a fish is in a stressful environment they will find it much harder to recover from illness's as such remained weaker for longer.... you can see over time how that would contribute.

while cardinals are generally peaceful fish any species can have the odd rogue example who obviously hasn't read the fish book on how to behave and does his own thing. In a larger tank or shoal this probably wouldn't be a big issue but in such a small tank the effects will be magnified. It's always difficult to quantify the amount of bullying going on over a forum so it's a bit hard to get a handle on the most appropriate course of action. It's really a case of monitoring the tank closely and making a judgement call..... you should consider trying to find another home fro the bully by returning him to the store or finding a fellow hobbyist willing to take them.

 

[Lazerus]

Hi Miss Wiggle,

Hmmm, interesting. I wonder would adding an equal sized fish smooth things out a bit?

This particular tetra who (I named Lazerus) is considerably bigger than the other four.....he's fatter, rounder, longer, his colours are the best....he steals most of the food, even taking it out of other fishes mouths.....he' thinks he's the bee's knees.

Also, other behaviour I've noticed is that he stashes food in the barrel. I'm deadly serious! He takes as much food as he can hold (like a hamster) then he skulks off in the other direction when the others aren't looking, and drops it into the barrel. He takes his time eating then, and returns to the barrel every few minutes. He's a brat!

He's also always pecking away at the developing algae....I never see the other fish doing this. He's clearly a hungry bugger.

He's a character alright....the King (or Queen, as suspect she's female) of the tank.

Anyway, there's a fish shop near me that particularly has a good selection of bigger Cardinal tetra....there is usually really fat, big fellas among the smaller ones. I've never bought anything in there yet, but I wonder would they mind picking out a nice large one for me? (Or are they like those people on stalls who only put the good fruit out to the front and sell ye the manky fruit to the back! )

I might pop in today....

But would you think that would help at all....or maybe I should buy two or three more cardinals while I'm at it. Make the shoal into a group of 8 for example?

P.s Nah, I'm not really into the F1 scene, but my brother would be salvating looking at those pics....he's married to his machines! (cars & motorbikes)

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yes that could definately help

the more fish you have in the shoal the less chance there is of any one individual being dominant or bullied. Now clearly you can't just stick 50 cardinals in your tank and hope for the best, but you could certainly push the envelope and add a couple more of the biggest one's you can find.

Another top tip is to re-arrange the tank before adding the new fish, this removes any territories and means the new fish start on a level playing field so to speak.

So go get a couple more fish, while they're floating and acclimitising in the tank just shift a couple of things around (I'd advise making sure you move the barrel as Lazerus seems to have claimed it) then release the new fish a short while afterwards.

Depends on the shop weather they will select individual fish, you can only ask?! Generally if you go in when it's dead quiet they'll do it, if you go in on a busy sat morning you've not a hope in hell.

 

[Lazerus]

Great advice there!!! Thank you!!

Ok, I might head over this morning as its a Wednesday, quiet and their new stock comes in on Thursdays so people who are in the know will be hanging on until the weekend before they buy. The shop will be empty I imagine. Perfect!!!

Now when you say:

(I'd advise making sure you move the barrel as Lazerus seems to have claimed it)

Is it enough move it to a different place in the tank or shouldremove it altogether? If so, I can put in a different resin log in place of the barrel.

I may do a water change this morning to have it nice and fresh to add the new fish. Or do you think I should leave it alone?

Also, my usual cycle question....is this going to start a mini cycle? I have 5 cardinals currently, if add another 5 big lads, (as I'm thinking a shoal of 10 now) that would be 100% more fish...so the cycle would start from scratch again or does it work that way?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

don't think you need to remove it entirley, all you want to do is shift everything around.

cardinals aren't the smartest of creatures ever, if you move something he probably won't immediately know that it's the same thing. Up to you though if you want to just move it or remove it. either will work.

yup even for the hardiest of fish and the most mature of set up's being caught and moving to a new tank is a stressful experience. By making sure the water quality is as good as possible before they arrive you reduce the chance of any disease developing etc.

I would suggest adding another 5 cardinals, as you say doubling your bio load would start a cycle. You could probably comfortably add 2 without any serious consequences so I'd say just do that now, then give it another few weeks (obviously providing levels stay stable) then add another 3. (I know sometimes the price to buy 5 at once is better than buying them seperatley, but it's only going to be a difference of a few pounds at most, not worth it for the hassle of cycling if it can be avoided)