Are All Tetras Nippy? - Aquarium Advice

theotheragentm · 06-20-2008, 06:05 PM

My friend gave me fish for my birthday, knowing that I am into aquarium keeping, but he gave me livebearers and Black Skirt Tetras. The livebearers I can rehome, but I like the Tetras. Will they get nippy with my other fish?

JustOneMore20 · 06-20-2008, 06:28 PM

All tetras are not nippy. Black Skirts can be at times, but it may be mostly among themselves and not towards other fish.

theotheragentm · 06-20-2008, 06:56 PM

Okay. I've got three right now. Should I bump it up three more? I have the room.

rich311k · 06-20-2008, 08:27 PM

Good idea the larger the school the less aggression towards other species.

marchmaxima · 06-21-2008, 09:17 AM

I've had tetras that were unexpectedly nippy.... just be aware that occasionally you get ones that don't confirm to what you might be expecting.

dimmy32 · 06-24-2008, 10:12 AM

tetras and piranhas are in the same family, if tells you anything.
AS such, when they get hungry, they get aggressive. Just keep em well fed, and give them space and move and places to hide if need be.

white-worms · 06-24-2008, 07:22 PM

as a general rule, tetra's are very good community fish.

Stephen · 06-25-2008, 10:41 AM

I've experienced keeping a number of tetras at different points in time and the "nippiest" of them seem to be the Serpae tetras. The ones I had before took quite a bite out of my betta's tail (back when I didn't know better). In terms of movement, the Buenos Aires tetras are the most boisterous I've kept, chasing each other around. I'm not sure if they're nippy to other fishes though, as I had them with some cichlids, which they wouldn't dare tackle.

Leeny · 06-30-2008, 05:50 PM

Most tetras (and I said MOST) will only go after fish of their own kind. Although I've had a couple different tetras who were set on going after everyone in the tank. But they should be fine.

06-20-2008, 06:05 PM	#1
theotheragentm Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,172	Are All Tetras Nippy? My friend gave me fish for my birthday, knowing that I am into aquarium keeping, but he gave me livebearers and Black Skirt Tetras. The livebearers I can rehome, but I like the Tetras. Will they get nippy with my other fish? __________________ Box of Water - My Personal Musing and Photos on Fish Keeping

06-20-2008, 06:28 PM	#2
JustOneMore20 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,121 Images: 8	All tetras are not nippy. Black Skirts can be at times, but it may be mostly among themselves and not towards other fish. __________________ ~Kristin~ 5 planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g My links to pics: My 40g breeder log, My tanks blog

06-20-2008, 06:56 PM	#3
theotheragentm Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,172	Okay. I've got three right now. Should I bump it up three more? I have the room. __________________ Box of Water - My Personal Musing and Photos on Fish Keeping

06-21-2008, 09:17 AM	#5
marchmaxima Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 651	I've had tetras that were unexpectedly nippy.... just be aware that occasionally you get ones that don't confirm to what you might be expecting. __________________ Sharon : Melbourne, Australia 15G Freshwater Tank 4 x 2 x 2 FW Showpiece on the way

06-24-2008, 07:22 PM	#7
white-worms Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 16	as a general rule, tetra's are very good community fish. __________________ Whiteworms

06-20-2008, 08:27 PM	#4
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	Good idea the larger the school the less aggression towards other species.

06-24-2008, 10:12 AM	#6
dimmy32 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 42 Images: 5	tetras and piranhas are in the same family, if tells you anything. AS such, when they get hungry, they get aggressive. Just keep em well fed, and give them space and move and places to hide if need be.

06-25-2008, 10:41 AM	#8
Stephen Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 141	I've experienced keeping a number of tetras at different points in time and the "nippiest" of them seem to be the Serpae tetras. The ones I had before took quite a bite out of my betta's tail (back when I didn't know better). In terms of movement, the Buenos Aires tetras are the most boisterous I've kept, chasing each other around. I'm not sure if they're nippy to other fishes though, as I had them with some cichlids, which they wouldn't dare tackle.

06-30-2008, 05:50 PM	#9
Leeny Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: in my house Posts: 24	Most tetras (and I said MOST) will only go after fish of their own kind. Although I've had a couple different tetras who were set on going after everyone in the tank. But they should be fine. __________________ 29 gallon FW planted bowfront: 6 silver-tipped tetras 3 leopard danios 5 amano shrimp

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