Neon tetra questions

[Barliman]

I agree with everything Autumnsky wrote. I'd be curious to know if Petco gets their fish from breeders, or if they're wild-caught. The latter might explain the difficulties so many report with new acquisitions.

 

[Autumnsky]

Barli- I believe they come from Segrest Farms, though I don't know if captive or wild. Person who is the Aquatics Specialist SHOULD know answers to both questions. They can usually try to order things for you.

 

[HandSomeDevil13]

It's a 20-long. Here's the build thread for it.



Water quality is fine: PH is ~7 and seems stable. Ammonia/Nitrites/Nitrates is 0/0/5, and I change 20% per week. Others here have mentioned losing many neons soon after adding them, so I don't think my experience is unique.



Just frustrating.

Sounds rough ??
I guess I shouldn't worry to much if some of the neons i buy end up dying on me then.
Have you only kept neon tetras? I'm curios because I've heard different tetras are more demanding like the black neons



Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Barliman]

Barli- I believe they come from Segrest Farms, though I don't know if captive or wild. Person who is the Aquatics Specialist SHOULD know answers to both questions. They can usually try to order things for you.

Thanks for the information. I'll inquire next time I'm there. Tomorrow I'll be visiting a LFS with a good reputation to see what they have in stock. I'll definitely ask their provenance and what PH they're kept at: I'm beginning to think mine suffered from PH shock. I had thought it was near neutral, but a reading today shows it to be about 7.4. Wild fish would have a problem with that.

 

[Barliman]

Sounds rough ??
I guess I shouldn't worry to much if some of the neons i buy end up dying on me then.
Have you only kept neon tetras? I'm curios because I've heard different tetras are more demanding like the black neons



Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Don't know anything about Black Neons, but Neons and Cardinals have a reputation for delicacy. So, yeah, expect some casualties.

 

[HandSomeDevil13]

Don't know anything about Black Neons, but Neons and Cardinals have a reputation for delicacy. So, yeah, expect some casualties.

Sounds great ??
I'm trying to prepare my tank for the upcoming tetras. I had a whisper 10i filter in my tank but I'm replacing it with a Aquaclear mini, I've been running into the problem of filter media though because the old media won't bend and it's to large for the mini so I'm lost.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Autumnsky]

You can buy bulk filter pad in sheets or a roll. Cut to fit use 2-3 to make sure you have lots of room for BB. Also can use stars or rings filter media and the filter pad. Even if you have a filter that slides in try to see if 2 fit and you can double the possible space (surface area) for BB to grow.

 

[HandSomeDevil13]

You can buy bulk filter pad in sheets or a roll. Cut to fit use 2-3 to make sure you have lots of room for BB. Also can use stars or rings filter media and the filter pad. Even if you have a filter that slides in try to see if 2 fit and you can double the possible space (surface area) for BB to grow.

I was trying to add the filter cartridge from my old filter in the ac mini because it has all the BB I need. I didn't want to throw it away and risk my tank recycling. A few people have mentioned folding the old cartridge and adding it into the ac mini but I couldn't because of the sheer size, so now I'm wondering if I'm better off just ripping the old filter and try adding pieces of it into the ac mini.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Fresh2o]

I was trying to add the filter cartridge from my old filter in the ac mini because it has all the BB I need. I didn't want to throw it away and risk my tank recycling. A few people have mentioned folding the old cartridge and adding it into the ac mini but I couldn't because of the sheer size, so now I'm wondering if I'm better off just ripping the old filter and try adding pieces of it into the ac mini.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Ripping or cutting the old cartridge should work.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Autumnsky]

If you can cut a couple slices and make a :sandwich with old and new out of it one way or another. If its chunks as long as they can run next to each other for 4-6 weeks. Then remove a little at a time and watch your parameters. You might try a thin sharp scissor or Exacto knife to trim it for a flat piece or 2.

 

[guppygourami]

Just to add my perspective...

My neon tetras were doing great for a few months until the bullying started. I noticed one tetra nipping the others (especially during feeding time) so I separated that tetra for a bit where he could think about his actions. Johnny seemed to calm down when he was on his own but then I noticed in the tank there was another bully. I decided to keep him there just to see what would happen BAD CHOICE and he murdered Stephen and Lula overnight. I put Johnny back in and he swam for a bit and then jumped right out onto the floor. Died instantly.

The moral of this story is that neon tetras are very sensitive and you must track/watch for their personalities. I have no experience with black neons, maybe they're different. Just be careful


<g.m.t.a>

 

[Watsonja4]

Just to add my perspective...

My neon tetras were doing great for a few months until the bullying started. I noticed one tetra nipping the others (especially during feeding time) so I separated that tetra for a bit where he could think about his actions. Johnny seemed to calm down when he was on his own but then I noticed in the tank there was another bully. I decided to keep him there just to see what would happen BAD CHOICE and he murdered Stephen and Lula overnight. I put Johnny back in and he swam for a bit and then jumped right out onto the floor. Died instantly.

The moral of this story is that neon tetras are very sensitive and you must track/watch for their personalities. I have no experience with black neons, maybe they're different. Just be careful

<g.m.t.a>

LOL you named them, I just added 12 neons to my 45gallon and it takes me 30mins just to do a head count. Much like barliman I am also having some problems with them dying I have lost 2 in the first 24hours but I think the last 10 will be fine since they are schooling together and showing good color(fingers crossed).

 

[guppygourami]

LOL you named them, I just added 12 neons to my 45gallon and it takes me 30mins just to do a head count. Much like barliman I am also having some problems with them dying I have lost 2 in the first 24hours but I think the last 10 will be fine since they are schooling together and showing good color(fingers crossed).

Aha only the murderers and murdered You can tell the difference between them when one is dead... WOAH SORRY THAT WAS SO SAD WHO AM I
xD
*fingers crossed*


<g.m.t.a>

 

[Barliman]

LOL you named them, I just added 12 neons to my 45gallon and it takes me 30mins just to do a head count. Much like barliman I am also having some problems with them dying I have lost 2 in the first 24hours but I think the last 10 will be fine since they are schooling together and showing good color(fingers crossed).

Well, now I'm down to two. The one I thought was dying yesterday (spasmodic corkscrew swimming) is nowhere to be found -- one of the features of a planted tank. And, of those two remaining, one is hiding in the plants, flicking his fins, not coming out to eat. I suspect I shall soon be down to one...

However, I'm now 99% sure it was nothing I did. Today while visiting local fish stores checking their stocks of neons, I stopped by the Petco where I bought this batch and looked at the tank they came from. There was one lone neon left, yet there were over a dozen remaining after my purchase last week. I doubt anyone bought them all in that time, so I think they got hold of a bad batch.

Oh, and the LFS tour: I was really impressed with the way one store kept their fish -- all looked really healthy, and I saw *no* dead ones. Unfortunately, he was out of neons, so I'll check back in the next week or two.

And hopefully have better luck.

 

[guppygourami]

I wish you the best of luck with your neons


<g.m.t.a>

 

[Barliman]

I wish you the best of luck with your neons


<g.m.t.a>

Thanks.

 

[HandSomeDevil13]

If you can cut a couple slices and make a :sandwich with old and new out of it one way or another. If its chunks as long as they can run next to each other for 4-6 weeks. Then remove a little at a time and watch your parameters. You might try a thin sharp scissor or Exacto knife to trim it for a flat piece or 2.

Just cut a few slices off the older filter cartridge and added it below the bio media from the ac mini, I will be checking my water every few hours just in case ?



Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[HandSomeDevil13]

Just wanted to post a pic of the neons at my lfs. They look healthy to me but wanted a second opinion on that ?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Watsonja4]

It's hard to tell but they look like they are schooling well. The two I lost both died the same way, first they split away from the rest of the school and just seemed to stay around the bottom until a couple hours later when I would find them dead. I think the stress of moving was the factor in my case though, my lfs is a little over an hour away so they were in the bag for over 2 hours if I count the time I acclimated. I plan to get 6 more along with 6 false Julii's this weekend and drip acclimate them instead of the bag float method to give them the best possible chance.

 

[Barliman]

View attachment 286704

Just wanted to post a pic of the neons at my lfs. They look healthy to me but wanted a second opinion on that ?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

There's no real way to tell from the picture, but they look like they're out and active, which is a good sign. Do you know how long they've been in his tank?