tetra phobic?

[Thalassa]

I have a breeding pair of blue acara that I have kept with tiger barbs and convicts without issue, I recently introduced 6 columbian tetra as dithers and the acara seem to be scared of them?? Maybe because they are ready to spawn again? Kinda strange anybody seen this type of thing?

 

[Deadeye]

How are they acting? Hiding in a particular area or actively avoiding the tetras?
It’s possible they are spooked by new activity, but breeding does seem more probable.

 

[tlindsey]

Do they hide when you approach the aquarium?

 

[tlindsey]

Do they hide when you approach the aquarium?

If the Acara swim and hide when you approach the aquarium the Columbian Tetra are causing this by their behavior. In the wild the frantic behavior of Tetra is a indicator to the Cichlid danger is coming such as a predator.

 

[tlindsey]

If the Acara swim and hide when you approach the aquarium the Columbian Tetra are causing this by their behavior. In the wild the frantic behavior of Tetra is a indicator to the Cichlid danger is coming such as a predator.

Also agree about them spawning.

 

[duanes]

Tetras are one of the major fry predators in nature, in the new world.
I have a 180 gal with Andinoacara that spawn 3 or 4 times, (seasonally, every dry season), the tank contains some Roboides tetras as dither fish.
I believe the tetras normally and quickly reduce each spawn (as soon as the fry are swimming) by about 90%.
3 spawns ago, only 1 fry made it to a non-predatable size.(is predictable a word?)
2 spawns ago, maybe have dozen survived, as the parents became more adept at defending the school
The latest, is still in the process of being reduced.
I believe the cichlids are instinctually aware of this predatory tetra tendancy

Above the lone survivor of this seasons first spawn
Below the tetras

I believe your tiger barbs will also take a toll on fry, but because they are not geographically correct (like tetras) the parents may not be as instinctually aware of or recognize their predation abilities.

 

[Deadeye]

Tetras are one of the major fry predators in nature, in the new world.
I have a 180 gal with Andinoacara that spawn 3 or 4 times, (seasonally, every dry season), the tank contains some Roboides tetras as dither fish.
I believe the tetras normally and quickly reduce each spawn (as soon as the fry are swimming) by about 90%.
3 spawns ago, only 1 fry made it to a non-predatable size.(is predictable a word?)
2 spawns ago, maybe have dozen survived, as the parents became more adept at defending the school
The latest, is still in the process of being reduced.
I believe the cichlids are instinctually aware of this predatory tetra tendancy
View attachment 1456379
Above the lone survivor of this seasons first spawn
Below the tetras
View attachment 1456380
I believe your tiger barbs will also take a toll on fry, but because they are not geographically correct (like tetras) the parents may not be as instinctually aware of or recognize their predation abilities.

What do you do with the fry that make it to adult size? Do the parents let those few live, or are they killed or moved to a different tank?

 

[duanes]

What do you do with the fry that make it to adult size? Do the parents let those few live, or are they killed or moved to a different tank?

None of the fry have made it to adult size yet.
With each new spawn, the parents chase the older fry away, because the juvies tend to want to eat their younger brothers and sisters until too large.
Below oldest fry chasing younger sibs.
.

 

[Thalassa]

Thanks guys, this is a lot of good information. I have been watching them closely today from more of a distance and noticed that the small juvenile convict is getting in the acara space a lot pushing them around and fin nipping this did not happen before the introduction of the tetra (or I did not notice). I am wondering if in addition to all the good points made above the introduction of the tetra have altered the behavior of the convict? or maybe the convict realizes they are ready to spawn and wants to eat fry. After their last spawn the baby convict got really fat and grew allot the acara seemed more hostile toward the convict.

guess unless this is putting to much stress on the acara it should be ok and eventually pass. If not I will probably remove the convict.

I really love convicts but they are always turn out to be such a pain in the ass.

 

[Deadeye]

Thanks guys, this is a lot of good information. I have been watching them closely today from more of a distance and noticed that the small juvenile convict is getting in the acara space a lot pushing them around and fin nipping this did not happen before the introduction of the tetra (or I did not notice). I am wondering if in addition to all the good points made above the introduction of the tetra have altered the behavior of the convict? or maybe the convict realizes they are ready to spawn and wants to eat fry. After their last spawn the baby convict got really fat and grew allot the acara seemed more hostile toward the convict.

guess unless this is putting to much stress on the acara it should be ok and eventually pass. If not I will probably remove the convict.

I really love convicts but they are always turn out to be such a pain in the ass.

That’s convicts for ya!