Anonymous - 2016-04-03 WE have a 50 gallon tank with 18 neon tetras, 4 Peppered Corydoras Catfish, 6 bloodfin tetras (4 died, so now 2), 4 Pristella Tetras, 1 Opaline Gourami, 1 Twig Catfish, 8 Zebra Danios, and 2 Koi Angelfish. We have had this tank for about three months, we have 2 amazon swordplants and 2 unknown plants. We have also unexpectedly acquired a bunch of Ramshorn Snails. The Neons have been eating normally and none have died, but they tend to just sit in a corner, also they have been picked on by the bloodfins for while, we can't get more bloodfins to prevent their aggressiveness becauese of a disease which killed four. The owner of our local pet shop (Sailfin Pet Shop) said once the disease stops, don't buy bloodfins for another 4 months. The disease made them have a huge hole in the front of their faces, then eventualy die of starvation, once we saw signs of it, we just took the sick ones out of their misery. I'm Wondering if we should put them in our old 10 gallon tank (they originally came from it) or wait 4 months. The tank is sitting on my bookshel with a fake plant in it, we'd have to re setup the tank and put more decorations and gravel in it, also we'd have to find an 82 degree 10 gallon heater. The tank was kept for 9 years with water in it (i got it when I was 3, i'm now almost 13) and 3 months without, and smells kind of funny. Also it has algae left in it that we've tried over and over again to scrub out. The only decorations left over are two small fake plants, we also have an algae coated fake plant from the new tank we took out because we had enough real plants. All the rocks were moved to the new tank. Before we lost some, the bloodfins kept to themselves and left everyone else lone, Now that there are only two left they nip at the gouramis and angelfish's fins, the break up the schools of tetras and danios, and it pushes the twig catfish around. The 50 gallon tank has a serious algae problem, we just cleaned it out, and there is still a ton of algae on the back. We have such a bad algae problem because of our LED system to keep the live plants alive. We decided to keep the snails because we caught them eating alae, and read that they are good algae eaters, but the bloodfins have eaten at least 19. We are just trying to figure out if we should move them or let them stay. We also have another small problem, our opaline gourami (there is only one because when we floated the angelfish, 3 jumped out (my sister was floating them because I had to do homework) has been well, pooping all the time, although we suspect it is because we've seen him eating the fluffy algae off the intake for the filter, the rocks, the out take, the plant leaves, etc, we are worried about it's health and how much poop is on the bottom of the aquarium. Any help would be well, very helpful.
Click For Replies (1)
Molly Malone - 2016-05-31 Did anyone ever respond?
If not, and you'res still having issues, please let me know and I'll give it a crack.
I have a couple Bloodfins in my tank while cycling. They do tend to get a bit skittish/testy when they are not in schools. So, that could be why they were nipping at the Neons.
Carla - 2015-06-02 I've had blood fin tetras for years with good luck. Now they are dying one by one every 1- 2 weeks. No sign outward of illness . Look healthy. All aquarium conditions have remained the same. It started after I introduced a new group from pet store, perhaps those fish carried something? How should I proceed?
Click For Replies (1)
Clarice Brough - 2015-06-03 Hard to say when you can't observe any outward signs of disease, but you can also watch for a change in eating and swimming behaviors. Look for signs that any of the fish may be harrassing others, as that can cause stress. Also check your tank size for the number of fish you have and make sure there is plenty of space and lots of decor (plants, driftwood, rockwork) for everyone to retreat. You could ultimately remove the new fish to their own tand and see if things straighten out again, if you can tell which is which.
Connor - 2014-11-25 I have two of these remarkable fish in my community tank and they are lovely fish. They swim in lovely shoals and get on with every fish in the tank but mainly with neon tetras and rummy noses. They always swim with them or with their partner. These are lovely fish to keep and I am going to get some more soon. I recommend you get these fish in your tank.
carlosR - 2006-05-20 I love these fish! I have noticed that some individuals get a peculiar "wasting" until several weeks later they die. Others puchased from the same source at the same time thrive. Beautiful when they school. They enjoy a well planted tank.
james g. adelhoch - 2011-12-28 I have the blood fin tetras in my aquarium ten gallon capacity the most I have ever had together is six. They are very active and eat well but I have noticed a few of the them have developed a sagging spine bending downward after that they live a short while then die. They are known to be very hardy and live for many years. What is the reason for this to happen.
Click For Replies (2)
Wet Thumbs - 2012-02-27 The Bloodfin Tetra is a beautiful and very active schoaling fish. I have 15 adult-sized (1.5 inch) Bloodfins in a heavily planted 60 gallon aqaurium along with 6 med-large Angelfish. These Tetras are exciting to watch as they school tightly and also when they split up to explore amongst the plants. They appear too large for the Angels to bother with and it works out well since the Tetras spend much of their time mid to upper tank and the Angels from mid to lower tank (except of course when they are begging for food). I have not seen issues with the 'wasting' described, but if it happens I will be replacing any losses. Great fish!
Jeremy Roche - 2012-02-27 Could be FISH TUBERCULOSIS. If that is the case the and it is spreading to other fish, the entire tank will need to be cleaned with bleach and allowed to dry. Make sure to wear gloves when cleaning the tank and DO NOT start siphon with your mouth. Are their any other symptoms?
BIG T - 2009-12-16 I noticed the same thing about my blood fin tetras. Their spine starts bending downward, still active, will eat they go down hill to the point I flush them.
Anonymous - 2004-11-23 These fish are very easy to take care of, and are not very needy at all. Great for beginners!! They have a nice see through texture. Truly a beautiful fish.
Big Steve - 2004-01-12 A hardy, pretty, and underrated fish. Looks great against a blue background. Sometimes they school and sometimes they explore on their own, at all levels of the tank. Bloodfins are supposed to be about the easiest tetra to keep. Mine adapted to my aquarium in no time. Their fins are a quite nice red.
The Bloodfin Tetra is a time tested favorite, and a school of these attractive fishes is a pretty sight!
WE have a 50 gallon tank with 18 neon tetras, 4 Peppered Corydoras Catfish, 6 bloodfin tetras (4 died, so now 2), 4 Pristella Tetras, 1 Opaline Gourami, 1 Twig Catfish, 8 Zebra Danios, and 2 Koi Angelfish. We have had this tank for about three months, we have 2 amazon swordplants and 2 unknown plants. We have also unexpectedly acquired a bunch of Ramshorn Snails. The Neons have been eating normally and none have died, but they tend to just sit in a corner, also they have been picked on by the bloodfins for while, we can't get more bloodfins to prevent their aggressiveness becauese of a disease which killed four. The owner of our local pet shop (Sailfin Pet Shop) said once the disease stops, don't buy bloodfins for another 4 months. The disease made them have a huge hole in the front of their faces, then eventualy die of starvation, once we saw signs of it, we just took the sick ones out of their misery. I'm Wondering if we should put them in our old 10 gallon tank (they originally came from it) or wait 4 months. The tank is sitting on my bookshel with a fake plant in it, we'd have to re setup the tank and put more decorations and gravel in it, also we'd have to find an 82 degree 10 gallon heater. The tank was kept for 9 years with water in it (i got it when I was 3, i'm now almost 13) and 3 months without, and smells kind of funny. Also it has algae left in it that we've tried over and over again to scrub out. The only decorations left over are two small fake plants, we also have an algae coated fake plant from the new tank we took out because we had enough real plants. All the rocks were moved to the new tank. Before we lost some, the bloodfins kept to themselves and left everyone else lone, Now that there are only two left they nip at the gouramis and angelfish's fins, the break up the schools of tetras and danios, and it pushes the twig catfish around. The 50 gallon tank has a serious algae problem, we just cleaned it out, and there is still a ton of algae on the back. We have such a bad algae problem because of our LED system to keep the live plants alive. We decided to keep the snails because we caught them eating alae, and read that they are good algae eaters, but the bloodfins have eaten at least 19. We are just trying to figure out if we should move them or let them stay. We also have another small problem, our opaline gourami (there is only one because when we floated the angelfish, 3 jumped out (my sister was floating them because I had to do homework) has been well, pooping all the time, although we suspect it is because we've seen him eating the fluffy algae off the intake for the filter, the rocks, the out take, the plant leaves, etc, we are worried about it's health and how much poop is on the bottom of the aquarium. Any help would be well, very helpful.
Did anyone ever respond?
If not, and you'res still having issues, please let me know and I'll give it a crack.
I have a couple Bloodfins in my tank while cycling. They do tend to get a bit skittish/testy when they are not in schools. So, that could be why they were nipping at the Neons.
How did it all work out?
Your tank was cycled right?
I've had blood fin tetras for years with good luck. Now they are dying one by one every 1- 2 weeks. No sign outward of illness . Look healthy. All aquarium conditions have remained the same. It started after I introduced a new group from pet store, perhaps those fish carried something? How should I proceed?
Hard to say when you can't observe any outward signs of disease, but you can also watch for a change in eating and swimming behaviors. Look for signs that any of the fish may be harrassing others, as that can cause stress. Also check your tank size for the number of fish you have and make sure there is plenty of space and lots of decor (plants, driftwood, rockwork) for everyone to retreat. You could ultimately remove the new fish to their own tand and see if things straighten out again, if you can tell which is which.
I have two of these remarkable fish in my community tank and they are lovely fish. They swim in lovely shoals and get on with every fish in the tank but mainly with neon tetras and rummy noses. They always swim with them or with their partner. These are lovely fish to keep and I am going to get some more soon. I recommend you get these fish in your tank.
I love these fish! I have noticed that some individuals get a peculiar "wasting" until several weeks later they die. Others puchased from the same source at the same time thrive. Beautiful when they school. They enjoy a well planted tank.
I have the blood fin tetras in my aquarium ten gallon capacity the most I have ever had together is six. They are very active and eat well but I have noticed a few of the them have developed a sagging spine bending downward after that they live a short while then die. They are known to be very hardy and live for many years. What is the reason for this to happen.
The Bloodfin Tetra is a beautiful and very active schoaling fish. I have 15 adult-sized (1.5 inch) Bloodfins in a heavily planted 60 gallon aqaurium along with 6 med-large Angelfish. These Tetras are exciting to watch as they school tightly and also when they split up to explore amongst the plants. They appear too large for the Angels to bother with and it works out well since the Tetras spend much of their time mid to upper tank and the Angels from mid to lower tank (except of course when they are begging for food). I have not seen issues with the 'wasting' described, but if it happens I will be replacing any losses. Great fish!
Could be FISH TUBERCULOSIS. If that is the case the and it is spreading to other fish, the entire tank will need to be cleaned with bleach and allowed to dry. Make sure to wear gloves when cleaning the tank and DO NOT start siphon with your mouth. Are their any other symptoms?
I noticed the same thing about my blood fin tetras. Their spine starts bending downward, still active, will eat they go down hill to the point I flush them.
These fish are very easy to take care of, and are not very needy at all. Great for beginners!! They have a nice see through texture. Truly a beautiful fish.
A hardy, pretty, and underrated fish. Looks great against a blue background. Sometimes they school and sometimes they explore on their own, at all levels of the tank. Bloodfins are supposed to be about the easiest tetra to keep. Mine adapted to my aquarium in no time. Their fins are a quite nice red.