Although there may be some scruffs in the family, these tetras aren’t aggressive. Candy cane tetras establish their own social hierarchy. Large fish can prey on candy canes and eat them when the opportunity presents itself.Ī school of at least six candy cane tetra is best, as these fish live in large schools in the wild. Candy cane tetras dislike excessive movement, so they shouldn’t be housed with fast-swimmers that cause a lot of water movement. This will replicate the dense vegetation found in the Amazonian water sourcesĬandy cane tetras only feel stressed if the aquarium is overcrowded or if they share their tank with aggressive, boisterous, and much larger fish. You should aquascape your tank with river rock, driftwood, dry leaves, floating plants, and other aquatic plants. Regular water changes keep these levels in check.Ī fine gravel or river sand substrate is recommended. Decaying organic matter, phosphate, and nitrate build up over time. Because the tank is a closed system, water hardness increases when water evaporates. This will have the added benefit of making your pink candy cane tetras even more beautiful.Ĭlean water is essential, and 30–50% of the aquarium water should be changed every other week. To ensure your aquarium mimics this natural environment, don’t allow angle filters or powerheads to disturb the water area where your candy cane tetras swim.Īdd catappa leaves or aquarium-safe peat to make the water darker. The slow-moving clean water is black or dark brown due to the organic acid and tannins that the dense plant matter releases as it decays. The sandy river or lake bed is littered with leaves, branches, driftwood, tree roots, and aquatic plants. In the Amazon basin’s floodplain lakes and tributaries, candy cane tetras live in the shade that the trees provide. Once your fish has received medication, quarantine it for another week to ensure the disease has been completely treated.Īdvertisements Habitat and Tank Requirements Change the water in the main tank and vacuum it. Next, medicate or treat the fish as appropriate for the disease or infection. This helps stop the disease from infecting your whole fish population. When you notice that one or a few fish are infected, create a hospital tank to quarantine the sick fish. Treatment includes antibiotics like Terramycin or copper sulfate. Your candy cane tetra will breathe rapidly. You’ll notice ulcers on the scales and cloudy white patches near the gills. General bacterial infectionsīacterial infections like columnaris may affect your tetras. For treatment, see a fish health specialist. Infected fish showcase symptoms like a loss of appetite and lethargy. With ichthyobodo, the skin and gills of your candy cane tetra will turn gray and a blue-gray mucus is produced. Parasitic infestations may include worms or protozoa like ichthyobodo. Treat a skin flukes outbreak by removing the infected fish and putting it in a bath of 10 mg per liter of potassium permanganate for 10–30 minutes. Your fish will race around the tank and will try to scratch their bodies against the sides of the aquarium. You will see black or red nodules underneath your fish’s skin. These fish sleep at night or when the aquarium is dim. Candy cane tetras sometimes swim and eat in the mid to lower levels of the tank. In the aquarium, candy cane tetras occupy the mid to upper levels, and they like to hide in caves or amongst the plants. Slow swimmers and eaters don’t make good tank mates as tetras are aggressive around food. These fish are easily startled by sudden movements or loud sounds.Ĭandy cane tetra fish are no threat to snails, shrimps, or crabs, and can cohabit a tank with these creatures. The candy cane tetra is also more likely to fin nip when the aquarium is overcrowded. Candy cane tetras are peaceful and prefer a tranquil environment.Ĭandy cane tetras feel stressed when larger, aggressive fish species share their tank. In the wild, candy cane tetras are found in large schools, so keeping a school of fish helps curb behavior problems. Advertisements Typical Behavior Image credit: fishiemon64
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