Danio problem - need some help please

[abstract]

i would describe what a few of my danios have as exactly an "underbite" as you stated earlier! they did not have it when they were very small but it seems that some of the males (i'm assuming they are the longer, slender ones instead of the fat ones i assume are the females) developed it over time, along with the whiskers i mentioned earlier...only some fish, though

just do your best to pop in every once in awhile and make sure it doesn't get any bigger, or look infectious...we all know how well you care for bettas so i'm sure you will help just fine w/ these danios...and maybe let the guy who is taking care of the tank know there are better/easier ways to change water (i.e. using a python) that would take him a mere 10 minutes a week!!

 

[BettaMomma]

We were wondering if maybe he just forgot to shave yesterday.

lol

I'll make sure and keep him on top of it.
I asked him if I could bring in some live plants from my house and give them to him (heh heh heh) - and so I asked if we could do that early next week, so I'll get to check on them at that time.

 

[abstract]

time to bump an old topic i was wondering about...how's the danio/tank doing now bettamomma?

 

[BettaMomma]

Funny you should ask. I was just talking to him about them this morning.
Over the weekend he added 2 leopard danios and a snail to the tank. He said the guy with the white chinny chin chin still looks the same, but no worse. He is still eating and swimming just fine, and now that they have their little clan of 4 he said it's like a nice calm collective synchronized swimming show in there. I don't know what that white thing is, but I suppose it's entirely possible he'll just have it for life. If it was going to get much worse I think it would have by now.

He also added a live plant. It was mondo grass but he tried. I told him that's not necessarily a tank plant, although I have had some in my female betta tank for several months and it's growing like crazy - I did warn him that he'll probably need to change it out and get more plants, probably some thicker ones.

So, all in all - the tank seems to be a really happy little family now.

He was also asking about adding some neons - or some kind of tetras. Later, of course. I have gotten him to be really patient with adding more fish - hopefully he'll let these new guys settle in a while before he gets anymore... I'm thinking he doesn't have the room to have a healthy sized school of neons or tetras- is that true? What do you recommend?

 

[abstract]

He was also asking about adding some neons - or some kind of tetras. Later, of course. I have gotten him to be really patient with adding more fish - hopefully he'll let these new guys settle in a while before he gets anymore... I'm thinking he doesn't have the room to have a healthy sized school of neons or tetras- is that true? What do you recommend?

good to hear it hasn't gotten any worse and he is actually listening to your advice!

so right now there are only two zebra danios, two leopard danios, and a pleco? i don't usually like to keep plecos in anything less than a 20g...ghost shrimp and cories are a good cleanup crew for something that size....

IMO the tank would be fine with 4 danios, some cories (in place of the pleco if there was any way to get rid of that), and a school of tetras (neon, rummynose or black phantom would be my favorites)...the tank would be very, very active that way and would have a decent stocking in the top, middle, and bottom levels!

HOWEVER, he may not want to go with neons because they are some of the more sensitive tetras (and fish in general)....

hope that helps!

 

[Erised]

The tank wont be fine with it's occupants, sorry. Danios really need a bigger tank than a 10G because of how active they are. 4 Is also not enough. Danios tend to be aggressive towards eachother and other fish if kept in a group less than 6. When 6 they'll simply chase eachother and it won't be aggressive, just active.

I think what's likely is that the danios got in a dispute because not kept in a proper shoal, got bitten in the lip, and it got infected.

BettaMomma, if you PMed Wolf he'll probably have given you this advice already, but can you please try and convince your friend to sell the danios and get a shoal of cardinals or something more suitable instead?

 

[abstract]

cardinals are not suitable for a new tank, or inexperienced fishkeepers, though...

although, i do completely agree that the danios need a longer tank (i was more considering the stocking levels, vs. the space active danios need, sorry)...but it would also be difficult for someone to tell him to get rid of the 4 danios and pleco because then he would have to start all over...sigh

 

[Erised]

That's very true
I said cardinals because I couldnt think of anything! He wanted tetras, so I was gonna say neons ... but none would survive in a tank that new, so went for cardinals without thinking The hardier the better ofcourse, though in my tank they're pretty much the hardiest

I know it won't be easy to convince him to give them away and start all over again, but it's worth a try, right?

 

[abstract]

I know it won't be easy to convince him to give them away and start all over again, but it's worth a try, right?

we all know how persuasive bettamomma can be

i think rummynose or black phantom tetras (and personally i love my mix of black phantom and serpae tetras! same body style and attitude , different color ) would be good, hardy fish, with decent personality and coloration he would enjoy

def. try to steer him clear of neons for now...

 

[BettaMomma]

Oops - forgot to check back here after I posted this morning.

Well, getting rid of the danios isn't an option - at this point, we're just looking at making it the best tank we can with what we've got.
Pleco? There's no pleco. They just have the 4 fish and a snail. It's a trumpeter snail.

I did PM wolf when I first posted this, and he just gave me some advice on healing the fish. He never said anything about not keeping them in that size tank. And oh my you have NO IDEA what I had to go thru to get him to this point. -sigh- The only reason he didn't go out and fill up his tank with fish the day he filled up his tank is because I threatened him with never speaking to him again if he did. AND I have another friend who completely let her tank go - and these 2 poor little danios were in DEPLORABLE conditions, and I wanted to rehome them. It seemed like a great thing, especially when I came to this site and asked for some advice - and was told that if cycling with a fish was a must (which people said is best not to do) that danios would probably survive it best, so I went and got the little guys and to their new home they went.

This guy and his daughter are not out to find the most desirable home for their fish, they want the coolest looking tank for themselves, and no matter how much harping and bitching I do to them, I'm lucky they're even listening to me as much as they have been. So if I can help them make the best home for their fish while making them happy, then I will be happy too. And, there is no way that I'm going to agree to have them just get rid of these 2 poor little danios who have had such a horrible life and I rescued them. The water they were in had to be toxic. Besides, the little girl has named them both already and is pretty attached...

Now, having said all that - I will definitely keep him away from the neons - what about something like blind cave tetras? Does he need more danios if another type of fish comes into the picture? If we were to get him some serpaes, how many would be good?

Thanks for your advice, everyone - I know it's not the ideal situation, but I want to try to make it the best it can be for these fish..

 

[The-Wolf]

you are correct I didn't mention the tank size in my PM;
my priority was helping you deal with the problem at hand.

now that seems to have been sorted and you are aware of the
tank size requirements of the zebras, I'm sure you will do what you can to keep your ZD's happy and healthy.

 

[abstract]

lol BettaMomma, i don't know where i got that pleco from ...i guess i was getting posts mixed up...

i think most broader body tetras would work out fine (black phantom, serpae, even emperor tetras and the likes) with the danios - just try to avoid any long-finned species as the danios will be verrrry tempted...i think your best bet is 3-5 (5 MAX) serpaes - they stay small, have gorgeous coloring, and won't be afraid to nip back at the danios if things get outta control..

however, i think with 4 danios in a farily confined area they will focus most of their attention on eachother, and occasionally get curious with the snail lol

 

[Ethos]

I bought 3 danios 9 months ago when I started my first 10G. Those things lived in the harshest conditions of any of my fish. They even have cycled 3 of my tanks! They stil;l live happily in my bottem 10G, after all their hard work in the cycleing buisness, the got some well deserved peace.

 

[BettaMomma]

you are correct I didn't mention the tank size in my PM;
my priority was helping you deal with the problem at hand.

now that seems to have been sorted and you are aware of the
tank size requirements of the zebras, I'm sure you will do what you can to keep your ZD's happy and healthy.

I WISH they were my little guys - I'd probably go out and get them a 29 gallon tank (that I've always wanted)

Anyway - I'll mention the serpaes to him and see what he says. He seems to be really taking my advice lately moreso than he used to... so....