Black Skirt Tetra Fry is one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby. They come in many different colors and shapes, but all have a beautiful black skirt that is their namesake. Many people who keep Black Skirt Tetra Fry in their tanks wonder whether they can survive if they are added to the main tank with other species of fish.
While it may seem like a great idea at first, there are several reasons why you should not do this- including some surprising ones! Read on for more information about what happens when you mix Black Skirt Tetra Fry with other species of fish (and even without them!)
Can Black Skirt Tetra Fry Survive In The Main Tank??
Adding Black Skirt Tetra Fry to the main tank with other fish can be a risky proposition. Unfortunately, most of this fry will not survive for long.
Why Keeping Black Skirt Tetra Fry In Main Tank Isn’t A Good Idea?
There are several reasons why you should not keep Black Skirt Tetra Fry in the main tank. The most important one is that they will be eaten by other fish in the tank.
Black Skirt Tetra Eat Their Babies
One of the biggest dangers to fry is that their own parents will eat them. This happens often with Black Skirt Tetra and other species of tetras. In fact, it is estimated that up to 80% of all Black Skirt Tetra fry do not survive past their first few days or weeks!
So even if the fry does manage to evade being eaten by the other fish, they may not make it very long!
Other Predators In Tank
In addition to being eaten by their parents, Black Skirt Tetra Fry are also preyed upon by other fish in the tank. Some common predators include other tetras, large cichlids, and catfish.
There are other potential predators in the tank as well. Some species of shrimp and snails can be a danger to small fry, as can some types of catfish. If you have any of these animals in your tank, it is best to keep the Black Skirt Tetra Fry separate from them until they are larger and more able to compete for food.
Small Black Skirt Tetra Fry Can’t Compete With Big
One of the reasons is that they are very small and can easily become prey for larger fish in the tank.
Black Skirt Tetra Fry is not very big themselves- only about the size of an inch when they emerge from their eggs! On top of this, they also have a lot more competition for food than adults do because so many other fish in the tank eat before them.
This means that smaller fry won’t get enough to eat and will quickly die off on their own without intervention by you or another aquarist keeping an eye out for such issues.
Will All Black Skirt Tetra Fry Be Dead?
It is impossible to say for certain how many Black Skirt Tetra Fry will survive in the main tank with other fish. However, it is likely that most of them will not make it very long.
It is estimated that less than 20% of Black Skirt Tetra Fry survive in the main tank with other fish! This means only about one or two out of every ten fries will live to adulthood if they are introduced into the main tank right away.
Even under the best circumstances, you can expect half of your Black Skirt Tetra egg clutch to die off before reaching maturity- and this number could be much higher depending on other factors such as water conditions, predators, etc.
Depending on these things, anywhere from 80% – 90% of all black skirt tetra fry may not survive past their first few weeks!
Is It Necessary To Seclude The Black Skirt Tetra Fry?
This is a very common question. We will try to answer it as detailed as possible:
No, it is not necessary to seclude the Black Skirt Tetra fry. To be quite honest, we have found that extra effort and worry are often unneeded if you simply do nothing about your black skirt tetras’ breeding activities.
Yes, they breed like crazy without any care and protection. Furthermore, their eggs and fry can stay in their tank (but we find this unnecessary). They would surely make a mess of your peaceful community’s main tank but very few eggs and fry die by themselves. So, don’t panic at all!
However, there are some good reasons why you should segregate them right from the start – as soon as you notice that the female has laid eggs.
When Should You Introduce Your Black Skirt Tetra In Main Tank?
This is another common question – and again, there is no definitive answer. As we have said before, it is not necessary to segregate the fry but if you want to be on the safe side (and avoid having a tank full of fry), you should introduce the Black Skirt Tetras into your main tank when they reach a size of about 1.5 cm.
How Can You Protect Black Skirt Tetra Fry From Being Eaten In Main Tank?
There are a few things you can do to protect Black Skirt Tetra fry from being eaten in your main tank:
Hiding Spaces
Provide plenty of hiding places for the fry to escape to. This could include rocks, plants, and driftwood.
Do Not Overfeed Your Fish
Do not overfeed your fish. This will help to reduce the number of predators in your tank.
Create Under-Crowded Tank
Decrease the number of fish in your tank. This will help to ensure that there is enough food for all of the fish. Thus, it will reduce the chances of anyone fish becoming a predator.
FAQ
Q: Can Black Skirt Tetra Fry Survive Without An Air Pump?
A: Yes, Black Skirt Tetra fry can survive without an air pump but I do not recommend it. If you do not have an air pump, you should make sure that you keep a close eye on the water level in your tank and top it up as necessary.
Q: What Does Black Skirt Tetra Fry Eat?
A: Black Skirt Tetra fry will eat anything that they can fit into their mouths. They will start to develop their adult coloration at about 4 weeks old. Similarly, they will start to feed on live food at this point. You can begin to introduce small amounts of food such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms when they are about 2 weeks old.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – everything you need to know about secluding Black Skirt Tetra fry. As you can see, it is not a difficult process. But there are a few things you need to do in order to protect them from being eaten. Remember to provide plenty of hiding places and to keep a close eye on the water level in your tank. You should also start to introduce small amounts of food when they are about 2 weeks old. Good luck!
