Question About Zebra Danios

[Carecalmo]

I hope I'm putting this in the right place. Hm. I've got two zebra danios in my tank. When I first got them 5 days ago they stayed at the top of the tank. Two days ago on Saturday I raised the pH since it was quite low and I read that the danios like a pH of 6.5 to 7 and mine was at 6.2. I also that day put in an air pump. I soon noticed the danios swimming all around the tank. And two days later they still are. So I'm wondering, what caused the change? Was it the pH or the air pump?

 

[orangefish]

It could just be that they 'found their feet' and came out of their shell- most of my new fish are like that for the first few days and then just suddenly become active and exciting. They would probably be even happier in a schoal of 5 or 6 of them.

 

[OldMan47]

Danios are very active fish. If yours are moving around well, it means they are feeling good. There is nothing unusual about that.

 

[Assaye]

Sounds like the danios are feeling good, but excessive 'darting' can indicate distress. Maybe you culd get a video?

Also, be careful about fiddling with the pH in tanks. As much as shops and manufacturers would like you to believe that adjusting the pH is important and easy, it is neither. Adding chemicals to the water affect it in ways more complicated than simply raising the pH. In short - if you don't understand what pH is and how it works, don't try to mess with it. If you're doing it in a natural way with certain stones and sands, that's generally OK but a sharp change in pH can be very dangerous. Never try to move pH by more than about 0.1-0.2 at any time.

A fish that likes a pH of 6.5-7 won't mind 6.2. A fish that likes 7.5-8.5 might have a problem with 6. Just try to void buying fish that like a pH and hardness that is way outside your range.

 

[Carecalmo]

I was only worried they hated the pH and that's why they were only swimming at the top. But I won't be bothering with the pH anymore. My Mom said that her pH is low too. That our water is just that way and it's futile to try and change it really. I'll try to get a video tomorrow since it's night here. *nod*

 

[waterdrop]

Its quite common for the smaller danios (ie. not giant danios but zerbras, pearls, leopards) to spend large amounts of time zipping just under the surface - its their normal minnow-like behavior. There are times when they won't do this but generally there will always be some part of their day when they do. The like a longer tank where they can build up some speed.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Carecalmo]

Thanks all for the replies. I do hope they are happy. :] Hadn't thought of getting more of them.

Sounds like the danios are feeling good, but excessive 'darting' can indicate distress. Maybe you culd get a video?

Here's the video. :]
[youtube]http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub8uVFDQtOk[/youtube]

 

[ZoddyZod]

looks like pretty standard danio behaviour. However, they do like to be in groups and they form a pecking order...if there are only two then one might end up being chased all the time. Best to increase the numbers to 6+