Clowns + Tetras = Clowns?

I'm currently quarantining some Clowns, Tetras and Yoyos for a couple of
other tanks. I haven't been feeding them much, as they have some Ammonia
issues, despite seeding the filter from another tank. So I go to feed them
today and 5 of the Tetras are missing. I suspect it was the Clowns, as they
were harassing the Tetras when I fed them.

I had planned to move the Tetras and the Clowns to a tank with more Tetras,
but now I'm wondering. Did the Clowns eat the Tetras because they were
hungry from the lack of feeding or are they just as likely to eat them
anyway? I can always move the Tetras to a smaller tank with the Yoyos,
they've always gotten along before.

I suspect there will not be any Tetras to move in two more weeks anyway. :-|

"carlrs" <carl.DeleteThis@americanaquariumproducts.com> wrote in message
news:1193063352.770987.297890@z24g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 22, 5:27 am, "Reel McKoi" <dorundayREM....DeleteThis@THISgmail.com> wrote:
> "Bill Stock" <m....DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
>
How long has this tank been set up?

It's a spare I keep for quarrantining new fish, but it was empty.

How did you seed the aquarium? Usually sponges or other filter media
works best, followed by gravel. Little nitrifying bacteria is found in
the water column as these bacteria usually adhere to surfaces of water
flow that contain adequate oxygen.

I put some filter floss from my other aquarium in the HOB filter when I
added the fish. I also bought some bacteria, but it seems pretty much
useless. I've been doing daily water changes to keep the Ammonia down (light
Green on the Mardel strip). I also added a bag of gravel the other day to
try and speed up the process.

All the fish seem fine, the Clowns are getting more outgoing, colour looks
better and no signs of the dreaded Ich. My fear is that they got sucked up
the Python, the Tetras seem to have no fear of that thing. I thought I was
being carefule, but perhaps they played Jonah with all those water changes.
I usually cover the Python when cahnging water in the large tanks, so I can
do it unattended.


I would suggest more seasoned filter media exchanges as well as
incremental water changes.
I would also suggest Prime or Amquel Plus to de-toxify the ammonia
(the ammonium will still be available for nitrifying bacteria, so your
cycling will not be interrupted).

I've got some Ammo Rock somewhere, but the Ammonia is not all that high.

One other possibility is that the tetras were weak when you purchased
them and may have had an undiagnosed disease such as Neon Tetra
Disease
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/02/neon-tetra-disease.html

They're actually Cardinal Tetras, but I doubt it matters. The PH (7.8) may
be a little high for them, but my resident Tetras live in 8+ with no
complaints.