Newbie Question About Albino Rainbow Shark Feeding And Behavior!

[StAbbitt]

I have a 12 US Gallon tank with 2 Zebra Danio, 2 long-finned Zebra Danio, 2 Leopard Danio, I male CrownTail Betta, and one Albino Rainbow Shark. I have had some issues working out feeding due to the fact that the Danios swarm on any food I drop in the tank. I have been switching between pellets, dried bloodworms, dried brine shrimp, and fresh peas which are all happily devoured by the Danio and Betta. I have also been using sinking algae wafers for the shark who almost never leaves the bottom of the tank.

My concern is that in the last couple days my shark has been hanging out near the top of the tank which is completely abnormal in comparison to his behavior over the last month of owning him. I have been concerned this whole time that he may not be getting fed well (i've never actually seen him eat the algae wafers though they do seem to disappear fairly soon after being dropped in the tank), and am now even more concerned now that he is acting abnormally.

I am hoping that someone can give me advice on what I may be doing wrong, or could tell me if this behavior is normal. Any tips about foods for my shark would also be appreciated. I actually have never seen him eat anything other than algae off of different objects in the tank.

Thank You!

 

[StAbbitt]

So, it's been a month and my little guy is still alive. He(she?) is definitely the king of abnormal behavior. I'm almost thinking he does it on purpose to freak me out. Especially when he's staring at me from his cave with what almost looks like a smile on his face.


Anyway, I had a weird breakthrough this past week. My Yoyo Loach was spending a lot of time 'playing' with his reflection on the side of the tank and I figured he needed friends and went out looking. After all three of my LFS were out of smaller loaches, I grabbed one Albino and one Julii Cory that were looking lonely in their store tanks. I figured I could work out the shoal groups when I get my new 100G in the very near future. BUT, it seems that my albino rainbow shark, yoyo loach, and the two Cory's have formed their own little shoal! They scoot around the tank together, never more than a few inches from each other, and scavenge as a group. Every once in a while, they bicker a little, but the Julii Cory acts as the referee, quickly breaking up any skirmishes. What a cute oddball group! The shark AND loach both seem ten times happier, and it's the first time i've actually seen the shark eating.

Has anyone else had mixed shoals like this form in their tank?

 

[hihi100202]

A 12 GALLON TANK?!??!?!?!?! OMG! dude, you nneed to get rid of some fish, theres not enoghf room!

rule of thumb: apprx. 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water...

u better get that 100gallon tank fast, cuz i learned the hard way, i waaayyy over-stalked my tank, and a few of them died.


FISH KILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![