Fish Gathering By Heater At Night?

[GemGem86]

Hi everyone

I have noticed the past week or so most of my fish (I have a dwarf gourami, platys and 3 neons) - by most I mean my platys gather by the heater (they are in a bi-orb 60litre) - they sort of gather by it, don't rub themselves or anything like that but just gather by it and 'hang' and it seems to be late at night they do it. In the day they are all merrily milling about.

A few of them are heavily pregnant and 'shake' themselves too - so thats obvious just wonder why the others do it.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks

Gemma

 

[GemGem86]

Ooooooo I have just read on the forum here that a sign of when the females are about to drop is that they hang around by filters/heaters etc..... could it b e that the males are there too as they 'know' and are waitig for the babies?

I am hoping this is the reason as I was getting worried!

 

[soybean]

What does your thermometer say the temperature is when they're doing this?

 

[GemGem86]

It looks around 22/23 degrees, its always in the 'green safe zone' on the thermometer... what are you thinking?

 

[soybean]

That they might be a bit chilly!

 

[GemGem86]

Hmmmmm do you think I should up it a couple of degrees maybe? bye a degree a day? I was just under the impression that if the thermometer is showing in the 'green zone' then it would be ok

 

[soybean]

24 would be better.

 

[GemGem86]

Thank you, I feel a bit silly now I will up it over the next couple of days as I am guessing upping it too much in one go wouldn't be good.

 

[soybean]

It might be something else, but it makes sense to rule it out. 24 is a good average for most community fish.

 

[GemGem86]

Thanks, I will give it a go and keep an eye on it, see if they stop. Thanks for your help.