Inactive Fishies

[Kryten]

I have a tank with 11 fish in; 4 platys, 6 neons and a betta. At the moment, all of the fish seem very inactive. They go wild when food is placed in the tank, but all other timkes, especially the neons and betta move around as little as possible

My Tank

19 UK gallons
Fluval 2 Plus filter
Ammonia 0
NitrAte at 0.5
NitrIte 0
PH 7.0
Temperature reads at 27 degrees

What could be causing this inactivity in the fishes

 

[Pondlady]

Platys are usually calm, are they just laying on the bottom or decoration? Bettas normally do rest on things quite often. I would guess that the water should be a little more acidic for the neons - that may be stressing them out. They are usually nervous, darting fish. How long have they been in the tank? If they're new, they may take a few days to acclimate. Do you have enough hiding spaces for them to feel safe in a new environment?

 

[Kryten]

They have been in the tank for about 5 days. I have been told by some that 6 is enough but others tell me that 12 would be better as they get more active when in shoals of 12 or more.

I am planning to add 6 more tomorrow as all water parameters are fine for adding more fish. Besides, I hardly think that 6 little neons will put a great strain on a well established tank

Since I posted this, I have increased the pump speed as you can do with fluval internal filters, three of the platys have perked up, as has the betta, although the betta still keeps to himself, hiding under the pump. One platy just hides in a little recess in the bogwood and lots of large-leaved, floor covering plants provide shelter for the small neons. One neon is a little bit nippy towards the other neons, but I think this aggression is down to nerves, not being in a large enough shoal, which I will cure tomorrow