Peaceful community tank? Yeah right!!

[themusician]

First it was my platies chasing and apparently nipping at each other. Now it's my tetras!! As soon as the light turned on in my tank this morning, my two larger tetras started going at it. It's hard to see what they're doing because they move so fast, but it looks like one is nipping the other one. One fish hits the other fish in the side and then they both dart away and start chasing again. It's a shame I can't take a video because it's hard to explain.

I don't get it. I should have enough tetras for a school. I don't think my tank is overstocked. Is this some sort of normal fish behavior that I'm not aware of, or are they really picking on each other?

[Lady Hobbs]

I never had a problem with aggression in any type of tetra I've had but I also didn't care for some of them. My favorites are still with me, the black skirts, and I have 19 of them. They play a lot. Push and chase and skoal and I wonder if you are mistaking playing for aggression. Some have claimed to have nippers but I've not had that either.

They sure are hardy little guys. I have the same 6 I started this hobby with. I've never lost even one and they stay nice and colored up.

[themusician]

It could be that I'm mistaking playing for aggression. I'm not seeing any physical damage on any of my fish and I've been watching closely for a couple of days now. Maybe that means that whatever they're doing isn't serious.

I do think my platies could possibly be attacking each other. I still haven't seen any damage, but they do this thing where the two males flare their fins and sort of curve their backs (oh, so hard to explain!!) and swim side by side staring at each other until one of them leaves or attacks (or whatever they're doing). But since I don't see damage, I guess I'll just keep an eye on it for now.

Oh hey, this is my 100th post!! Go me. :19: :19: :19:

[Lady Hobbs]

Go you is right! LOL Congratulations on your 100th.

I only have 4 platies and only have them because they clean the plants. I can't seem to get into those live bearers much and hated the mollies I had. Got tired of all their aggression.

So what do I do...........get angels! grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[CAF]

The back bowing and flaring of fins is completely normal. The platies are showing off to one another trying to show who is the biggest baddest meanest bestest, etc. dominant male in the tank. As long as there is no physical damage they are fine.

As far as tetras, they often play "tag" This might be similiar behaviour with males trying to show dominance or it might just be play....

[Incredulous_Ed]

It sounds like everything is normal.

[MeganL3985]

My neon tetras do the same thing. I thought it was agression but they've been doing it for a few months now off and on and it doesn't seem to be doing any physical damage. I think it is just "tag" like CAF said.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

almost all my fish do it, they never hurt one another, they just playin

[markbob]

what is a platie? Do they really take care of alge on pants and such?

[cocoa_pleco]

a platie is a hardy livebearer that cleans algae

[mitcore]

i have tetras and platties in my 3ft and as seen in the above poats, i dont have agression,