Are my Shy Green Neon Tetras - causing embers to hide?

[Wookii]

From taking this all in, I will either a) add another 6 Green neons to make the shoal bigger and see if this helps or b) try a dither fish.

Personally I wouldn't consider it an 'either' consideration - I'd add the six Neons regardless, and then consider options for dither fish if you want to go that route.

I do like the look of the small Pygmy corydoras, always busy at the bottom and won’t look too big for my scape.

Fish vary, but they're another 'hider' for me, so wouldn't be on my list for the intended outcome.

I worry about my bio load getting larger with more fish?

I wouldn't worry too much, with 12 x Neons and 11 x Embers, you're still only at 66% stocking based on AqAdvisors calculator, plus a heavily planted tank with lots of broken lines of sight can support more fish that they suggest at 100% in my view as long as the fish size is appropriate to the tank.

 

[keef321]

Personally I wouldn't consider it an 'either' consideration - I'd add the six Neons regardless, and then consider options for dither fish if you want to go that route.



Fish vary, but they're another 'hider' for me, so wouldn't be on my list for the intended outcome.



I wouldn't worry too much, with 12 x Neons and 11 x Embers, you're still only at 66% stocking based on AqAdvisors calculator, plus a heavily planted tank with lots of broken lines of sight can support more fish that they suggest at 100% in my view as long as the fish size is appropriate to the tank.

Thanks, I will source some more green neon tetras and see how things go 👍

 

[ElleDee]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I don't think an iwagumi is particularly suitable for any type fish at all.

Because of the lack of cover? I doubt my male endlers would have cared - they were always so wrapped up in their interpersonal drama they seemed completely unaware of anything else short of food. Though I image the sort of person who appreciates a minimalist iwagumi would not be drawn to clownish livebearers! I do take your larger point though; a bright open space is stressful for little fish.

 

[shangman]

Thanks, I will source some more green neon tetras and see how things go 👍

Yeah this is true, pygmy cories are also rather shy unless you have shedloads of them, I had much better luck keeping 50+ in a 200L tank than smaller tanks. After adding the tetras and waiting a bit, maybe try rosy loaches - they're almost as small but much more gregarious and active than pygmies, a group of 10 is great. Really charming little fish than use every square inch of a tank, play with eachother and breed, have nice colours and markings, and will sometimes school with the tetras too.

 

[keef321]

So I finally got to the bottom of this 🙂 I bought another 6 green tetras, but this did not make any difference to the hiding behaviour.

I was starting to wonder if they did not like the bright light, as they would come out to feed with lights out. So I decided to refuse to feed them with lights off, and coax them to come out when the lights are on. Eventually they accepted food with the lights on, but they would instantly hide again. But what this did allow me to do, was to see the condition of the fish better. They were normally hiding, and even with the lights on, I could not see them, amongst the plants. Finally now I could see them for a short period with the lights on, I realised some of the green neon's had what looked like itch / white spot. So I started to treat them, and on same day I started treating them for white spot / itch, I could start to see the difference in their behaviour. Within a week of the treatment, they were like a different fish, and rarely hid!! It took two treatments over 2 weeks to get rid of the white spot fully.

Now they are super active fish, and pretty much stay at the front of the tank all the time, constantly begging for food each time they notice me in the room. The front of the tank is a higher flow area, as this is where the Lily pipe is (for co2), but they seem to love the extra flow (unlike the embers that are much more lazy and chill out of the flow). Honestly it's like they are a different fish, and are much more active than I expected, so thats a bonus 🙂 I'm really enjoying the green tetras now

 

[curlingmom]

i have minnows (5) and they hide at the bottom i was told due to it being cooler and darker and more oxygen at bottom . they feel more safer.

Hi Marie, It is my experience that they hide when they are to few to feel protected beeing a pack. An recommended minimum is six. If you add two or three more I am quite certain you will see a 180 degree change in their behaviour and be able to enjoy their boisterous, lively checking both you and the tank out + the boasting finn flares and dances between the males. (Peacefull they are though and no finn nipping.) It was my first fish five years ago and still a favourite. Also in the right number they are exellent dither fish occupying mid waters in the open making other more shy species feel safe to come out from hinding. Best 🙂

 

[curlingmom]

I was wondering if my ember tetras now hide, as I have added some shy Green neon tetras

Seems you have double up on shy species. Presently my naturally shy ember tetras are in constant hiding. This will change when they are reunited with my minnows which are exellent and entertaining dither fish. The fish are now separated due to treatment and establishment of new larger tank. When united the naturally shy embers had a significantly different open and bold behaviour. This I am quite sure will be the case when they get reunited. (Evt. see my response to Marie above.) Of course there is other fine dither fish than WCM's to choose from. Best 🙂

 

[keef321]

Seems you have double up on shy species. Presently my naturally shy ember tetras are in constant hiding. This will change when they are reunited with my minnows which are exellent and entertaining dither fish. The fish are now separated due to treatment and establishment of new larger tank. When united the naturally shy embers had a significantly different open and bold behaviour. This I am quite sure will be the case when they get reunited. (Evt. see my response to Marie above.) Of course there is other fine dither fish than WCM's to choose from. Best 🙂

Thanks Curlingmom, since I treated for white spot / itch, my green neons are now super active, and the embers have joined them 🙂