Whats Eating My Neons

[JLF231]

I had to mave some fish from a small tank into a bigger on because of a snail infestation, the big tank had Chinese (i think) loaches and aquatic frogs in it, along with community fish that were the same in both tanks, since moving everyting over i've lost 3 neons, they look like they have had their back fin eaten off......... any ideas what is doing it. The other fish in the tank are catfish (4) albino Pleco (2) ruby tailed shark (1) apple snail (1). all these lived with the neons previously.

 

[Monty-2010]

is it a Chinese algae eater? if so it could be that
what type of catfish are do you have?

 

[micko]

Could be the aquatic frogs too, depending on what type they are?

 

[mattbleasby]

Either the Frog or the Chinese Algae eater. What type are both of these? I would say at a guess it would be the CAE rather than the Frog especially if there ADF's...

 

[moochy13]

bear in mind the fish could have died naturally, and if thats the case everything you've got in your tank will have a go at a fish corpse, fins are always the first to go on a dead fish.

 

[DarrenEPB]

This morning before I left for work I heard a splash in my tank (130ltr) and went to investigate, to my amazement one of my paradise fish had one of my neon tetras almost entirely in its mouth. Firstly, I had noticed that my neon tetras had gone from 25 to 19 over the last 5 weeks, and secondly I was told or I believed that paradise fish were not aggressive and could live in a community tank. I was shocked. Now I am asking myself what do I do, as my neon tetras are one of my favourite fish. I have two paradise fish, as lovely as they are, I dont want them eating my neons and have only had them 6 weeks.


Update, baby swordtails and guppies are doing great!!
Fish are my hobby but I am no expert yet, but this is my field of expertease

 

[MBOU]

Paradise fish are VERY nippy!! with a tendancy for eating the eyes of fish they can catch!! But id put them on the same 'damage rate' as your shark!! Paradise fish are obnoxious and sharks are territorial, similar damage from either (tho both lovely fish!)

 

[DarrenEPB]

Thats weird you say that two of my neons do have an eye missing since the paradise fish have been in there?
Although you say nippy, is it common for them to actually eat other fish, I mean I actually saw him eat my neon! Does this leave me with a decision where as I either accept this may happen or re home my paradise fish? I do love them, I love the way they just seem to stop and move so great threw the water, but then, I dont want to lose all my neons?

 

[MBOU]

All fish are scavengers to an extent and will eat other fish given the chance, even neons will eat dead fish if they are their... its a survival instinct, a protein boost like that in the wild could make the difference between life and death...

Paradise are a bit of a funny one, tbh i dont think they belong in a comunity tank at all... they will keep nipping your fish..

 

[DarrenEPB]

I guess it really comes down to what I want in there more, neons or paradise fish, to which the answer is the neons.
I read up on them and got some conflicting reports, I guess at the end of the day it comes down to the individual fish and whats around them, like you say, survival instinct. Thanks for your reply


My knowledge if I can be of help