Strange Little Danios

[Rorie]

I have 6 danios - by mistake 4 of them are the long fin ones, and 2 are normal. Although other than the fins they look the same.

This morning the 2 normal ones have been swimming away from the other 4, along the bottom. Swimming fast as normal, diving in and out of the plants etc. I was confused why as they all hang about the top in a group of 6 normally.

Once the lights came on, i went over for a closer look - one of the two is a funny colour - rather than just silver and black strips, it has a brownish tinge all over him - like someone has photoshoped the fish into sepia effect.

I am worried this may be some illness or something which is why it is separating itself from the rest? Although the other normal fined one seems to be playing with him.

Any ideas?

 

[AstonN24vantage]

to answer your question about them hanging in the top - i think it's shoaling.

not sure about that other danio- maybe just natural color?

 

[Rorie]

Yeh the shoalling is fine, thats what they normally do. My question relates to the two that have broken from the group and are hanging at the bottom on their own - and its one of them thats iffy in colour

 

[ZoddyZod]

the brown/gold colouration you are seeing is their spawning colour. If two of them were chasing each other and showing these colours then that's very standard spawning behaviour. Nothing to worry about, they are obviously happy in your tank.

The male will show the gold whilst the female will remain silver.

 

[coldcazzie]

They're getting some privacy away from the others to get some hmmm hmm if you know I mean

Gold with blue/black stripes is what males look like and silver with blue/black stripes is the female colour, and the colours get more intense when they're spawning.

Panic not - you have happy fish

 

[alex.wardle]

If you play your cards right and cross your fingers you may (metaphorically ) hear the pitta patter of new little Danio fins

 

[Rorie]

Really! Cool!

So how does it work with Danios then? And i dont mean the birds and the bees, but more the spawn - they obviously aint live breaders, so what do i look for, how long, where?

 

[fluttermoth]

The females will swim through the plants releasing the eggs, and males will follow along behind with their 'contribution'! You might be able to see the eggs; they're very small though and see through to start with.

If you wanted to raise the fry, you'd have to remove the eggs into another tank; I'm afraid the parents will eat their own eggs (they must have very short memory spans! What was that in another thread about danois having ADHD?!)

 

[Rorie]

Ah ok, they have been swimming back and fore through my plane thats in the tank. I guess they will be in there somewhere!

I will just leave them to do their version of a termination then i guess - i dont have a second tank up and running properly yet. I guess it must be similar water etc and i just leave them for how long? Will one day some baby danios just pop out or what? How long does it normally take?

 

[fluttermoth]

Danio eggs hatch in about 2 days, I believe, but they're not very likely to survive in a 'normal' tank.

You may be lucky, if you have lots and lots of fine leaved plants for them to hide in

 

[Gilli]

If they have spawned they will hatch. Look out for what looks like tiny 'glass hairs' stuck to the aquarium glass - thats the fry!

 

[fluttermoth]

If they have spawned they will hatch. Look out for what looks like tiny 'glass hairs' stuck to the aquarium glass - thats the fry!

True Unfortunately most fish will think "ah, live food" and eat either the eggs or the fry; even the parents!