Black skirt tetra hiding

[mve1004]

About 3 months ago I started a second tank (30) gallon I put 3 black skirt tetras in there . About a week ago I noticed 1 of them is now hiding all the time in the plants. I read up on these fish and found out you should probably have minimum of 5 or 6 . Today I got 3 more and the one that was hiding came out and was actually socializing with the other 5 . That didn't last long the fish went back to hiding and did not eat when I fed them. Can anyone tell me if they had this happen before .

 

[GodFan]

Im not sure. I almost sounds like a sickness. However I am interested to hear the answers you get because all of my brothers neon tetras hide...constantly.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Well i think it Is probably stressed. Have you been doing water changes and what are your levels?

 

[mve1004]

I do a 5% water change weekly .I do not know the exact levels but I do know when I brought a water sample to the local pet store and all there readings were normal.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Okay do you not have a test kit? Many people on here reccomend getting the api master test kit, it really helps. The black skirts are the only fish in te tank right?

 

[mve1004]

I don't have a test kit. In this tank these are the only fish.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

In every school that i have ever had there has been one wierd fish. I have 10 glowlight tetras and there is one that is always hiding... Its wierd

 

[mve1004]

My other tank has a school of tiger barbs and there is one that would swim on it's own for a while but now it's of equal size with the others and it stays in the school. Maybe this is the same with the tetras

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Ya i think its the same with most schooling fish. I think the tetra will get used to the other fish and startto school more

 

[dmk6]

I have one black skirt that hides out in my amazon swords in the back of my tank. the others school around, it joins in sometimes. I have learned to accept it but i was once worried too. It has been doing this for 1 year now so I have ruled out illness.