HA! I finally figured out the fish hyper-activity

[ddavis1979]

A month or so back, I posted about my fish acting strangely. It was only the black neon tetras and the tiger barbs. They were darting around the tank and nipping each other and swarming in little groups, and generally displaying erratic and hyper behavior. I was confused. I knew it wasn't business as usual, but I chalked it up to fish just being weird....it does happen.

This morning, I finally caught a glimpse of what was going on. It happened so fast, it was like a blink of an eye. The Black Neons were releasing eggs and the tiger barbs knew it and were waiting and eating. The small black neon would fly by and nip the large female neon, which would then turn her body really fast and forcefully release eggs. The tiger barbs would swarm and every egg was gone before they even started sinking.

So the neons were frenzied due to spawning, and the tiger barbs were frenzied because they knew food was coming and they are filthy pigs! haha

[Asherbonnie]

Oh no! You'll have to put the tetra's into another tank to spawn maybe?

Your Tetra's must be getting so frustrated at the Barbs 'Stop eating my babies!'

[Stlouisfish]

Filthy pigs - interesting - it's called nature LOL

[madagascariensis]

...while it is nature red in fins and fangs, I fully understand your frustration about it in an aquarium setting...

[Sandz]

The black neons are just acting as the chicken on the tank. All normal. Awesome though that your conditions lend themselves to neons spawning. THats an accomplishment in its self.

[ddavis1979]

Well thanks! And I am not frustrated really, i mean its a little dissapointing, but I have always been sarcastic when it comes to the tiger barbs. They tend to run the show in my tank, and as entertaining as they are, they are also pretty destructive as far as community fish go.

[Stlouisfish]

The black neons are just acting as the chicken on the tank. All normal. Awesome though that your conditions lend themselves to neons spawning. THats an accomplishment in its self.

Yeah - I think that whenever fish start to spawn when it wasn't expected, that is really cool - even if eggs get gobbled up. Not everyone has space in their tank or a spare tank to put eggs/fry.