Hi Everyone, A M-F pair of Australe Killifish I purchased about a month ago have started to consistently sit on Nymphoides (hydrophyla) leaves at the top of the tank for 98% of their day, often curled right beside each other right at the water line. At first I thought this was a short term (and possibly fatal) stress response to a delay in my water change schedule, but after completing a water change almost a week ago, they have not stopped the behavior.
Does anyone have any idea what this could be? The fish themselves look pale and maybe a bit thin, but are perfectly capable of swimming around during feeding or when disturbed. The male had been chasing the female for the previous two weeks and I thought I observed some spawning behavior in the days leading up to this new behavior- is it possible that they are exhausted from a spawning session and need to regain their strength? But why would they be like this for a week or more? They seem to consistently lie right beside each other when they can- is this a coincidence or is it some sort of couple behavior?
The tank is a planted community 16G with a HOB filter, NO3 stable for years around 30ppm. All fish are on a flake diet but the pair had been eating really well and showing full colour. There was a minor NO2 reading a few days ago from passed fish which I was not able to remove for about a day, but this was after the water change and after the behavior started. I know that the first three factors - community tank, HOB filter, moderate-high NO3 - might each be a stresser for killifish, but these parameters are unchanged since the fish arrived. Indeed, the pair had coloured up and settled in beautifully until the sudden change a little while ago.
Any feedback or insight would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much in advance!
Does anyone have any idea what this could be? The fish themselves look pale and maybe a bit thin, but are perfectly capable of swimming around during feeding or when disturbed. The male had been chasing the female for the previous two weeks and I thought I observed some spawning behavior in the days leading up to this new behavior- is it possible that they are exhausted from a spawning session and need to regain their strength? But why would they be like this for a week or more? They seem to consistently lie right beside each other when they can- is this a coincidence or is it some sort of couple behavior?
The tank is a planted community 16G with a HOB filter, NO3 stable for years around 30ppm. All fish are on a flake diet but the pair had been eating really well and showing full colour. There was a minor NO2 reading a few days ago from passed fish which I was not able to remove for about a day, but this was after the water change and after the behavior started. I know that the first three factors - community tank, HOB filter, moderate-high NO3 - might each be a stresser for killifish, but these parameters are unchanged since the fish arrived. Indeed, the pair had coloured up and settled in beautifully until the sudden change a little while ago.
Any feedback or insight would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much in advance!
