Long Fin Black Skirted Tetra Problem?

Question

Got a 12 gallon tank (Eclipse 12) and we need advice. My son picked a long fin black skirted tetra & 2 gold skirt tetras to start. The gold skirts are picking on the long fin black skirt--it spends most of its time hiding. Will adding 1 or 2 long fin black skirts help, or should we pick different fish to complete the tank? Ideally my son wants to add 2 longfin black skirts, a platy, and a cory catfish-thoughts? We've read conflicting reports about whether or not platys and corys need to have more than one of their own kind.

Thanks for all suggestions!

Answer 1

The bullying is probably a result of insufficient numbers. Skirted Tetras (like almost all other Tetras) are schooling fish, and should be kept in groups of at least 5 of their own species... If they are not kept in the proper school, they become very insecure and either lash out at other fish (like the Whiteskirts attacking the Blackskirt) or hide (like the Blackskirt hiding from the Whiteskirts). 12 gallons isn't a lot of room to work with two schools of two inch fish, so I would suggest getting rid of either the Blackskirt or both of the Whiteskirts and completing their school by boosting the number of the kind you keep. Cories also greatly enjoy the company of their own species, so 3-4 Cories, one or two MALE Platties, and 5 Black OR Whiteskirt Tetras would be a great tank. Contact me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

Answer 2

Yes try to get a few more LF skirted tetras because the LF is getting picked on because he has long fins and more will distract the other tetras.....YES cories are schoolers NO platys are not(I have 2 and they never really interact)....I also have a 20 gallon tank with a few goldfish and 11?(i will count 10 or 11 at any given time....(I think one is either dead or dying now:(....the rest are doing GREAT ) they are always seen schooling ...dont worry the goldfish will hopefully soon be getting a 55 gallon aquarium and the cories will stay in the 20 while the tank with the bettas will be uped to the 20 gal.!!BTW: great tank choice!!