Who`s my fin chewer?

[Tetramad]

Something is chewing the lower part of my fishes tails in the night. Some of them are quite bad chunks missing. I have watched my fish for hours during the day to see if I can spot who it is but to no avail. It is mostly the tetras getting attacked, but my threadfin rainbows have been chewed too. The suspects are:

Male Betta x1 (obviously)
Clown Loaches x3
Blue Rams x2
Peacock Gobies x2

None of these fish have been chewed so it must be one of the above. Any ideas?

Thanks, Mark.

 

[CFC]

Bettas are known fin nippers and should not be kept in mixed community tanks.

 

[Dwarfs]

The betta hasn't been chewed, and the tetras have been?

I think that either the rams did it (Defending territorry) or the peacock gudgeons took a bite, because they are a bit nippy

 

[Tetramad]

OK I sort of thought it might be him, but would he do this at night? also all the tails are only chewed at the bottom half. Wierd.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Are you positive the fins are been chewed off and its not an infection?
Heres some pics of a fin attacking desease;

bacterial finrot

http/www.fishpalace.org/finrot_qianhu.jpg

http/www.fishpalace.org/bactfinrot_noodles.jpg

 

[freddyk]

Rams and Gobies are both territorial and I'd certainly suspect either of them first.
How many of each do you have?
What size is the tank?
What species are the victims?

I would think this mix would work with most tetras in an appropriate tank.

Also, the betta's a fin nipper

 

[Tetramad]

Firstly its a 90 litre tank. The victims have been Tetra: Rummy nose, Neon and Colombian, and Threadfin Rainbows. The Colombians and Neons seem to get it the worst. I`m sure its not a disease, the tails grow back quickly on their own with no treatment needed, and sometimes its almost half the tail missing the next day. It is happening a lot, 10 of my 14 Neons have been attacked in only a couple of days. Think I`ll start by finding a new home for the Betta. He doesn`t get chewed by the way.

Mark.

 

[loafybones]

Could be finrot.

Or if it's a fish doing it, i would put my money on the rams.

Loaf

 

[LoachLover]

Well I don't think it's the clown loaches. Might be the Betta or the Rams

 

[xanthianacid]

tetras can nip each other
rams are just aggressive and will chase rather than nip
i doubt a betta will nip, if they are aggressive I'd remove him but if he appears peaceful i don't think he's the one. usually if a betta if going to cause trouble its usually harrassment/stress out until death or rip the throat out but that is a personality trait. IMO bettas are either happy in a community and live peacefully or must be kept alone but never had a nippy betta just aggressive like rams really
not sure on the peacock gobies.

it might be something else unrelated particularly if they've lived harmoniously in the past
cheers

 

[bunjiweb]

clown loaches are one of the few species of loach that aren't fin nippers,although they are curious like many of the loach family...

I would probably say it is the rams, or possibly the betta, but tetras are too fast for most bettas..

Ben

 

[rdd1952]

I doubt it is any of the fish you mention as suspects. Bettas are too slow. Clown loaches not a problem. Unlike most cichilds, rams are very peaceful except sometimes during mating so I don't see them doing it. Not certain about the gobys. I would be more inclined to believe it is the tetras. How many of each do you have? If they are kept in schools of at least 6 they will get nippy.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

maybe the betta because with thier long finnage id think they would be the first to get bitten

 

[Dwarfs]

I doubt it is any of the fish you mention as suspects. Bettas are too slow. Clown loaches not a problem. Unlike most cichilds, rams are very peaceful except sometimes during mating so I don't see them doing it. Not certain about the gobys. I would be more inclined to believe it is the tetras. How many of each do you have? If they are kept in schools of at least 6 they will get nippy.

I have Peacock gudgeons, and the males can be nippy (Size doesn't apply to them, Peacock gudgeons think they are 5' long )

I don't think the tetras would nip eachother, that seems odd

 

[freddyk]

We know it's not fin rot, it grows back.

It might be worth removing fish one or a pair at a time to see if you can track down the culprit through trial and error at this point.

I do agree, you're keeping a lot of shoaling fish not in shoals. Especially when keeping territorial fish as you are your tetra's would really benefit if you kept less species in higher numbers.