Are Black Skirt Tetras aggressive or fin nippers?

[rohnds]

I didn't know that these fast moving black skirt tetras are aggressive till my guppies that I put in the tank start dying.
I put in three the 1st time and they died and then three weeks later I put two and they are now dead.
It is 40 gallon tank. I have four platys, 2 black skirts and 6 neons tetras.
For some reason they all have survived except for the guppies I have put in.
Guppies are slower and smaller than all the others and their flowing tails is tempting target for fin nipper.

Are black skirt tetras just aggressive or fin nipper? or both?


Rohn

 

[Thyra]

I bought black skirt tetras when I first got my tank three years ago. They are in a community tank with serpaes, angel fish, a betta, platies, and neons with no problems. They actually seem almost laid back and a not especially exciting and colorful fish. This is my experience. I also found them very hardy.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Rohn, I know most schooling fish like tetras need a group of 6 or more to act 'normal'. I wouldn't think 2 black skirts is nearly enough. This might be the cause of your issues with them.

 

[rohnds]

Usually fish that are semi-aggressive tend to be less aggressive when they are in a school of 7 (odd numbers)

But I have read that black skirts are fin nippers and sometimes aggressive towards slow moving fish.



-Rohn

 

[FreshyFresh]

And you have two in there.

I'm just sayin!

 

[rohnds]

There is also exceptions to this rule such as the Bala sharks.
They are more peaceful when kept in single vs in schools.



Rohn

 

[lauraf]

Seems the advice is you will have less of an aggression issue if you keep your black skirts in a larger group. I agree.

 

[rohnds]

After weeks on observing them, I realized that they are not all that aggressive but rather fin nipper. .

This is my observation from the two that I in my tank.




Rohn

 

[Thyra]

Like I said when I first answered - I have had not problem with fin nipping at all and I have four for the past three years.

 

[HeatherA90]

I've had a school of 5 black widow tetras for a few days now and I've found them to be very aggressive. They're constantly fighting with each other and harassing my Japanese fighter (beta). I'm returning them and going for a truly peaceful community fish species. They should be reclassified as semi-aggressive/aggressive.