Will Black Fin Tetras Eat Neons, With No Evidence Left Behind?

[Squeegeatc]

I was unaware that BFTetras were as aggressive as they are.   We have 6.   We had 5 neons.  All in a 55 gallon tank.  Last night we could only count 4 neons.   Today, only 3.  NO BODY TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE.
 
Is it even possible for the BFtetras to totally eat a neon with no signs left behind? 
 
I think the BFT will be moved to the 10 gallon.   I realize 6 is a tad tight, but I don't know what else to do.  I've asked all around.   No one else will take them.  Thank you LFS for telling me they were unagrressive.
 
 

 

[fluttermoth]

Pretty much all fish will eat dead fish, and the warmth in a tropical tank also means they decompose and fall apart very quickly.
 
What are black fin tetras? Are the the same as the black skirt/widow tetra, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi?

 

[Squeegeatc]

Yes, the same fish.  I see they have several names!  LOL  Last night we had 4 neons feeding happily.  This morning only 3 are accounted for.  I don't see how it can decompose that fast!!

 

[fluttermoth]

It is amazing, in a horrible sort of way! What happens is that the fish starts to decompose, the other fish eat the flesh and then the warmth helps the rest of the skeleton (which isn't very dense, not like mammal skeletons) break apart.
 
It's very common to lose fish and never find a body, especially with small fish like neons. Widow tetras are very aggressive, IME, even if in a decent sized shoal.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Its also common for dead fish to hide very well...

 

[Squeegeatc]

i have a shoal of 6, up from the 3 I first had.   It seems to have upped the aggression, instead of lessened it.  At this point, there is NO way I'm getting even more to try that theory again.  I've been watching closely to see if 1 is doing it all, but they all seem to be aggressive.  I hope they will be OK in the smaller tank.   I called the other fishstore.   They won't take them.  So I either keep them in the smaller tank, or I destroy them.  And even small mean fish don't deserve to die because I was given wrong information.  Getting a 3rd tank that is larger is not an option.  The 10 gallon will have to do. 
 
eaglesaquarium, that just made me giggle.  lol

 

[fluttermoth]

I had the same problem with tiger barbs They were fine, for years, with just seven or eight of them, then I moved them to a larger tank, added to the shoal (I had about two dozen) and they went mental

 

[Catfishlover]

I have four BFTs, but they never bother the neons. Are there any other fish in your tank?

 

[Squeegeatc]

As we loose more neons and a platy, with all BSTs removed, it is pretty obvious that it wasnt the BST. It has to go be the tank. Kinda miffed at husband right now. He had to add fish.

 

[Catfishlover]

I know this is some what off topic, but your rasboras should be kept in larger groups. Neons are delicate fish, so they are more affected by less-then-standard water quality. also, the fish are small, making them good at hiding.

 

[Squeegeatc]

Yes, catfishlover. The problem with these forums is the lack of continuity. I have different parts of my story allnover these boards. The rasbora school will be grown to at least 6. Husband insisted on his neon shoal first. Despite my reccomendations. We are now down to 5 neons. We had 10. He has finally realized that patience is key. There will be no new additions for at least a week. I am working on waiting a LOT longer. He is impatient. I fretted over the loss of my single female red platy. He just sees $2 fish. I am working on changing that.

 

[Catfishlover]

So it's not the BFTs. Are the neons showing any signs of illness(i.e. spots,laying on the bottom, gasping at the surface, discoloration,ect)