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Filament nipping Glass Cats?

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 13:42
by L number Banana
Got my glass cats a several days ago and all was well but this morning, I noticed ALL the tail filaments are missing on the twigs except two of them!
:(
Could the glass cats have done this? The only other tank mates are the tetras and three kuhlis.

I can move the twigs back to the old tank if I need to but will their lovely tail filaments grow back? Can I add anything to the water to help heal the tails or just keep the water clean? The tails don't look damaged at all.
Oh this sucks, poor twigs!

Re: Filament nipping Glass Cats?

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 13:55
by Silurus
I have not known glass cats to be this aggressive. I suspect that the tetras are more likely to be the culprits.

The filaments should grow back pretty quickly, though. Just keep up with the water changes.

Re: Filament nipping Glass Cats?

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 15:31
by L number Banana
Thanks Silurus,

The Glowlight Tetras have been with the twigs for months but the Cardinals are new and the glass cats like to chase them so maybe they're all just a little stressed out and are taking it out on the twigs.
The glass cats feed like crazy on brine shrimps so I don't think any of them were looking at the filaments like they were tasty worms but I'll keep an eye to make sure the tetras are not being out-competed for food.
I'll find more nice hiding plants and keep up with the water changes.

Re: Filament nipping Glass Cats?

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 15:39
by MatsP
Are you sure you have , and not the more aggressive and not for example .

--
Mats

Re: Filament nipping Glass Cats?

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 16:30
by L number Banana
Hi MatsP,
Pretty sure they're K. minor, I checked the spine before I bought them and it is clear with darker shading on either side, the spine itself is not black or dark at all. I looked at the other Kryptopterus and it doesn't look like any of the others either. Very nice match with the pictures of K. Minor. One of them is close to 2 inches though so they're kind of large compared with the little cardinals.

They've been swimming in all areas of the tank during the day and hang together in a group in the evening. They get kind of wild when I feed them so I was thinking maybe the feeding frenzy was scaring off the smaller cardinals and causing them to look for "worms". :shock:

They were at the store for over a week so they look nice and healthy, no spots or anything. Very pretty fish. I'll be adding to the shoal if all goes well.

Re: Filament nipping Glass Cats?

Posted: 19 Feb 2010, 16:40
by apistomaster
It's seems odd that the tetras would nip a whiptail's filaments but even when they are well fed I have seen Glow Light Tetras with signs of a nipped tail. I think it usually happens during spawning and Glow Lights normally spawn in a community tank if they are kept well fed and in clean water.

Re: Filament nipping Glass Cats?

Posted: 20 Feb 2010, 03:07
by L number Banana
Thanks Larry,

The Glow Light's went into a spawning frenzy twice now so maybe that's the answer. Not a very nice reward for happy fish! I'll keep an eye out and maybe one batch or the other will have to be moved back to the other tank. In the meantime, water changes and paying more attention. Maybe an all tetra tank is in my future.