Sick Buneos Aires

Question
I have three Buneos Aires.  Just recently one of them has gotten sick.  I separated him from my other fish in the tank by putting him in a breeder net due to the fact that my three female bettas were picking on him because he was sick.  He's appears to be over his illness, which I believe was Dropsy, but now he won't eat.  I just let him out of the breeder net a few minutes ago and discovered that he wounldn't eat because he didn't like being seperated from everyone but when he tries to get some food the other two Buneos Aires chase him off.  What do I do?  He's slowly starving and hasn't eaten anything in three days, going on four.  I fear he might die before I can do anything about it.  I'll be putting him back in the breeder net when I go to be so that he doens't get picked on by the bettas over night.  Please respond back as soon as possible.

Thanks,

~Jacket~

Answer
Hi Jacket,
  Sorry for not responding sooner; I was out of the country.

Unfortunately you face a difficult situation.  Basically you can't stop the other tetras from bullying him.   What I do is try to provide lots of "structure" in the tank, using wood, rock and plants to divide up the space.  That way, a weaker or small fish can find a little spot of their own to hang out and get some food.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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