Hyphessobrycon Callistus

[prince321]

hey,
i got a 37 ltr tank, and the first fish which i had were 4 tiger barbs that unfortunatly died within 6-7 houes. i then left the tank to cycle ading cycle solution for 2 weeks. i have now got 5 hyphessobrycon callistus which have been alive for 2 weeks. thank god.lol
just wondering there behavour seems ver funny. i hav not been using the light of the aqurium due to the hot weater, but some times wen the temp falls i put the light on. they all seem to go stright down next to the sand in the concer of the tank sumwere and line up together and stay there. as soon as i put of the light off they all swim off ?
secoundly, one of the hyphessobrycon callistus is big while the others are prety small. the big one usuly alwayz is at the back near the sand, and hardly swims about unless i give food or occasionaly here and there swims to another part of the tank and stays close to the sand?
and thirdly the black line on the fish some times seems darker then other times. some time the fish are of a palish colour and some times orangish does the intensitry of the black line have any significance?
lots of questions i know.. any help wil b very appreciated

chers!

 

[The-Wolf]

i put the light on. they all seem to go stright down next to the sand in the concer of the tank sumwere and line up together and stay there. as soon as i put of the light off they all swim off ?

this is normal; they are reacting to a sudden change in light levels and will, given time start to explore in the light.

secoundly, one of the hyphessobrycon callistus is big while the others are prety small. the big one usuly alwayz is at the back near the sand, and hardly swims about unless i give food or occasionaly here and there swims to another part of the tank and stays close to the sand?

the bigness could just be a alpha fish and therfore getting more food.
I'm more concerned with its' staying apart from the rest of the group.
this could be a sign of an illness.
what are your water parameters(Ammonia,NO2,NO3,pH)?

and thirdly the black line on the fish some times seems darker then other times. some time the fish are of a palish colour and some times orangish does the intensitry of the black line have any significance?

What do you mean black line?
do you mean the dark spot just behind the gill plate?
as with all fish they can intensify/detensify their colours when displaying to eachother. dulling/going pale is often a sign of them being stressed.

 

[dwarfgourami]

37 ltrs (just under 10 US gallons) is quite a small tank and you have added a lot of fish in one go. This will have been what killed your tiger barbs and your first priority should be to see that the serpas don't go the same way. You need to get a test kit and test the water every day for ammonia and nitrites. If you do find either, you need to dilute it by doing partial water changes (dechlorinated water). It could well be that the signs of stress are caused by problems with water quality.

 

[prince321]

thnx alot guyz,
i just did a 10 % water change, im not sure abt my amonia levels,bt last time i took a water sample to test for amonia there was no amonia present,
i need to get a test kit i gues.
they seem to be playing together a bit more today, the big one does play with the others, but generaly alone by it self at the back 60 % of the time. they seem to nib each other quite often, is that normal for these fishes?
chers thanks for ur advice ppl