Leopard Danio

[fish-o-fish]

So I bought myself 6 new snails to clean up around the aquarium yesterday, and I ended up with a stowaway in the bag.. after a lot of googling etc I discovered it was a leopard danio.

At first I was annoyed, but he's actually a cute little fella, and I read online that they are schooling fish.. I don't want to over-crowd my tank, but would it be a good idea to maybe go and buy another one or two for him to hang with? I don't really want to go and buy 9 more, but I'm wondering if I should give him at least a "partial" school?

 

[fishguy2727]

The more the better, even if it is only one or two more. Keep in mind that they are the same species as a zebra danio, so any morph of zebra danio should do just as well with them.

I wish I could find some regular leopard danios, I can only ever seem to find the longfin version (I don't like the longfin variety of any fish). If I remember correctly the longfin version is the dominant trait, which would be why they are the norm in that coloration.

 

[Curiosity101]

It really depends what size the tank is and what other fish are in there at the moment...

If you have room definitely get 2-3more (or other morphs as fishguy suggested). But if you don't have the room then observe the fish... does it seem happy enough? Has it started schooling with other fish? If it's darting around or hiding/looking stressed/nervous and you don't have room to add more then I'd have to suggested giving it away free to someone who already has a group.

One interesting thing though... how on earth did you actually 'accidently' end up with it? Surely the shop assistant noticed... or you'd notice... and I find it ironic that snails (the slowest creatures) were the intended target and you actually ended up with one of the fastest along with them.

 

[Fish Guy]

What size is your tank and what's in it at the moment?

 

[fish-o-fish]

Well the danio is darting around a lot and trying to hide so I'd say he's stressed then, and he certainly isn't schooling with my neons so I will probably head in to the aquarium store soon and grab a couple more for him to group with.

As for how I 'accidentally' ended up with him, while the store assistant was collecting the snails for me I was browsing the store to see if there was anything else I needed so by the time I paid they were all bagged up and in a plastic bag so I didn't notice until I got home.
As for how SHE didn't notice, that is beyond me.. but hey, free fish right?! Although I don't know if it counts as free anymore as now I'm going to have to buy more of his kind for him to school with, and they are fish that I never planned on getting so despite the 'free' fish I am actually going to end up out of pocket in this situation.

My tank is 70L and contains 3 bristlenose, a goldfish (before I get attacked, he was severely depressed in his coldwater tank so I tested moving him over and he has never been more active, alive or healthy!!), a male fighter fish and some neons. Also a bunch of snails and a little sucking catfish that I got free at work when our fish were removed from the store.

 

[soybean]

As for how SHE didn't notice, that is beyond me.. but hey, free fish right?! Although I don't know if it counts as free anymore as now I'm going to have to buy more of his kind for him to school with, and they are fish that I never planned on getting so despite the 'free' fish I am actually going to end up out of pocket in this situation.

My tank is 70L and contains 3 bristlenose, a goldfish (before I get attacked, he was severely depressed in his coldwater tank so I tested moving him over and he has never been more active, alive or healthy!!), a male fighter fish and some neons. Also a bunch of snails and a little sucking catfish that I got free at work when our fish were removed from the store.

Personally I'd return the danio, for these same reasons - no such thing as a free shoaling fish because now you have to buy more. I hate it when assistants do this kind of thing, however accidental it may be - she should've paid more attention.

Danios like to be in large groups so if you really can only buy one or two more, maybe consider returning it.

They are very active and I don't really think your tank can accommodate them properly.

The constant activity could also stress your betta.

(The tank is also extremely unsuitable for your goldfish! I'd work out why it was 'depressed' in its coldwater tank and address that issue.)