Why Are My GloFish Tetras Fighting? 7 Reasons and How to Fix It
GloFish tetras are black skirt tetras, and black skirt tetras run a strict pecking order. A certain amount of chasing is completely normal for them. But when one fish is getting chased down, nipped at, and run into a corner while the rest of the group takes turns, that is not just the pecking order being the pecking order. Something about the setup is feeding it. Here are the seven reasons GloFish tetras fight, and the fix for each one.
You didn't buy enough fish
GloFish tetras do not do well in pairs or trios. If you only buy two or three, the biggest one is going to relentlessly attack the weaker ones until they die from stress. Ideally, you need a minimum group of at least five to six fish to spread the aggression around so no single fish takes all of the heat.
They're natural-born jerks
GloFish tetras are actually black skirt tetras. They are naturally semi-aggressive. They are not peaceful little community fish. They establish a strict pecking order, so a certain amount of chasing is completely normal behavior for them.
Your tank has zero hiding spaces
If you have a bare tank with no tall plants or decorations, there are no visual barriers. The dominant fish can see every single target from across the room. They need spots to be able to duck behind so they can break the line of sight and end the chase.
Your tank is just too small
GloFish tetras need a 15-to-20-gallon tank bare minimum. If you put them into a tiny five-or-10-gallon starter kit, their pent-up energy turns straight into aggression because they have nowhere to actually swim.
Bad gender ratios
Having too many male GloFish tetras in a tank together without enough females can be a huge problem. With a mostly male group, they're going to constantly spar over territory and dominance. While sexing them can be difficult for beginners, keeping a larger group of six or more can help naturally dilute some of the male-on-male fighting.
Feeding time hunger games
For GloFish tetras, food means competition. If you just drop all the food in one tiny spot, they will absolutely fight over it. You want to spread the food across the entire tank so that the less dominant fish can actually eat without getting ambushed.
The tank temperature is too high
GloFish tetras do best between 72 and 78°F, not a tropical heat wave. If your heater is cranked up too high, hot water temperatures can spike a fish's metabolism. This means that they will be more hyperactive, hungrier, and far more irritable.
GloFish tetras establish a strict pecking order, so a certain amount of chasing is completely normal behavior for them. It only becomes a problem when one fish takes all of the heat. Check your tank against these seven things, fix your setup, and watch the peace return.
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