Nippy fish

Salutations fellow aquarists and fish enthusiasts!

In my first blog post, I would like to debunk the bad reputation that certain tetras have been given. I have a 50 gallon tank with 6 black widow tetras, 6 red eye tetras and 6 serpae tetras with a wide variety of other fishes including one angelfish. The above-mentioned tank is very peaceful and I have so far had no fin-nipping experiences. As most of you will know, in many forums and circles, these 3 species of tetras that I have mentioned above are described as mischievous fin-nippers and unsuitable for the community tank. The serpae tetra has even emerged as one of the worst community fishes of all time.

All three tetras; the black widow, red eye and serpae tetras are beautiful representatives of the characin family of fish and I would like everyone to have the same enjoyable experience that I have had in keeping these wonderful fish. Especially beginners that would invariably chose a community tank as their first choice over a species one. These fish can live together with other species of fish peacefully, including the angelfish which obviously has extremely long fins (FYI my angelfish has never been fin-nipped on any occasion), given that the aquarist takes the proper precautions.

The proper precautions include:

1) Keep these fin-nipping characins in groups of at least 6, more would be better. This directs their attention to within their group and they wont bother any of your other fish.

2) Feed them well. I have noticed that when fish are fed well, they tend to reduce their fin-nipping tendencies.

3) Plant your tank heavily. It provides cover for your fish to hide if they are being chased or harassed.

4) House these fish in no less than a 50 gallon tank. They tend to exhibit their fin-nipping tendencies more when in smaller volumes of water.

I hope this advice proves useful to some of you and I wish you luck in all of your fish tank related endeavours!

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Comment by Robert Jango on February 4, 2013 at 7:09am: I love posts that provide raw data. Being the fish freak that I am, my brain files this info away for further consideration. Thanks. But, (here comes the "but") I wouldn't be too quick to draw any conclusion from your experience.

Its impossible to say for sure why your tetras don't nip. For all we know your precautions might be steps that eventually lead to nipping behavior. But I do agree that if they're well fed they won't try to nip at other fishes fins - and only to the extent that the "nipping" is eating. The reason for this is that fish that are satiated stop feeding. I raise cichlid fry and sometimes have to place 1 week old fish together with 3 week old fish. If the bigger fish's bellies are bursting with brine shrimp they won't try to eat anything else - including they're little siblings.

Nipping may be a sign that fish are healthy and feel at home. Who knows?

Comment by Elliott Ong on February 4, 2013 at 10:47am: @ Robert Jango, I totally agree with you on your comment. It may just be my experience and it may not work out just as well for other people. I just hope other hobbyists may be able to benefit from my post.

Comment by Robert Jango on February 4, 2013 at 12:40pm: I benefited. It was a good post with a lot of interesting observations.

Comment by HeatherS on February 4, 2013 at 3:23pm: Well, there is also the possibility that they get along well because they all have similar temperaments so none are more peaceful or passive to become a target. Since all 3 have the same reputation that might make them more compatible together. Would be interesting to hear what others are keeping them with successfully and unsuccessfully....

Comment by Anthony Piti on February 4, 2013 at 5:53pm: I have a school of serpaes and a small school of neon tetras together. At first the serpaes nipped at the neons but after about two days the nipping stopped and both schools swim as one now.

I also have a school of tiger barbs (highly known fin nippers) in a 40 gallon with three spot gourami. The barbs nipped at first but after the first few nips, on of the gourami turned and gave the barbs that "back off" face and since then the nipping has stopped.

I've found that my schooling fish are always curious at first. Once the either quench that curiousity or are detered by a tougher fish the nipping stops.

Comment by Robert Jango on February 4, 2013 at 10:08pm: Hmmm... the ability to deter the nipper has emerged in the last 2 comments. Common sense, now that I think about it. No nipper would rattle a potential predator outside of self defense. I've kept tetras in a pond with larger fish (Goldfish, Oscars, Angels) and they pretty much stay to themselves. A pond is not their natural habitat, but it pretty close. (The pond is 30 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 4 feet deep) Here they steer clear of other fish unless I'm feeding the whole group from a single spot. That actually support your points (#1 and especially #4) Eliot.

I'm just theorizing here but I think nipping is an extension of feeding behavior. Its the same reason a cat hunts birds and mice - even when its not hungry. Often my family's pet cat would bring "presents" to the door, dead birds, vermin etc. She would eat them only if hungry.

Do you know the difference between a Piranha and a neon? The Piranha's bigger. That's right, Tetras have teeth - it one of the things that make them Tetras. Should we be surprised they use them? Anybody who's witnessed Piranhas' "feeding frenzy" might notice that its looks no different from a school of Tetras tearing away at an earthworm dropped into the water.

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