Up Sizing Tank

[rebrn]

Hello, I have recently set up a 5 gallon tank currently with one zebra danio (first fish added yesterday and so far doing fine). I am planning to add 3 more in week once I know the one has survived. I was told that having 4 zebra danio in a 5 gallon tank would be fine however, upon reading various sources I have discovered the zebra danio fish really need to be in a 10 Gallon tank. So my first question is can I leave my 4 in the 5 gallon tank or should I really up size to a 10 gallon? Second, how many zebra danio can I have in the 10 gallon? Finally, if and when I get the 10 gallon set up what is the best way to transfer the 1 fish I currently have to the 10 gallon, I won't add anymore untill I have the 10 gallon tank (if the 10 gallon is really necessary)? If I do need to upsize I was hoping to leave the 5 gallon tank as is for an isolation tank or possibly add 1 beta fish to the 5 gallon, but more likely keep it empty for an isolation/emergency transfer tank. Please help, I am new to fish keeping, the last time I had an aquarium was approximately 10 years ago and it did not go well at all. Thanks

 

[waterdrop]

I've seen differing opinions on minimum tank sizes and shapes for zebra danios. The main factor discussed is the horizontal swimming space. These are very fast minnow-like fish that clearly enjoy opening up the speed when given space and distance. As a result its pretty common to see sizes such as a "30 US gallon long" type tank advised as the minimum for a group of zebras. These danios are not shoaling fish strictly speaking but they benefit from larger groupings and you will usually see 6 listed as a good minumum grouping. In addition to being fast, they are also often thought of as mostly surface fish, but they do in fact go exploring at different times of the day and can be seen picking at the substrate quite regularly or coasting through the mid-levels, especially if there are plants and decorations. They get nice looking yellow edgings on their fins as they get more mature.

I hate to say it but the tanks you are discussing would not really be comfortable habitats for these fish, even in smaller groupings (as you have less fish, below 6 or so, they will mostly become a little more unruly with the other fish in the community although its mostly their speed that can become bothersome, rather than nipping or other things. Probably closer observers could say more.) All this is really unfortunate since these are quite hardy and excellent beginner fish from a water chemistry standpoint!

By the way, I'd guess that you might benefit greatly from reading our articles on the Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling and Fish-In Cycling Situations in our Beginners Resource Center and discussing some of the questions you have from these here in your thread. There's a fair bit to starting a tank that should go on prior to having fish.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rebrn]

I've seen differing opinions on minimum tank sizes and shapes for zebra danios. The main factor discussed is the horizontal swimming space. These are very fast minnow-like fish that clearly enjoy opening up the speed when given space and distance. As a result its pretty common to see sizes such as a "30 US gallon long" type tank advised as the minimum for a group of zebras. These danios are not shoaling fish strictly speaking but they benefit from larger groupings and you will usually see 6 listed as a good minumum grouping. In addition to being fast, they are also often thought of as mostly surface fish, but they do in fact go exploring at different times of the day and can be seen picking at the substrate quite regularly or coasting through the mid-levels, especially if there are plants and decorations. They get nice looking yellow edgings on their fins as they get more mature.

I hate to say it but the tanks you are discussing would not really be comfortable habitats for these fish, even in smaller groupings (as you have less fish, below 6 or so, they will mostly become a little more unruly with the other fish in the community although its mostly their speed that can become bothersome, rather than nipping or other things. Probably closer observers could say more.) All this is really unfortunate since these are quite hardy and excellent beginner fish from a water chemistry standpoint!

By the way, I'd guess that you might benefit greatly from reading our articles on the Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling and Fish-In Cycling Situations in our Beginners Resource Center and discussing some of the questions you have from these here in your thread. There's a fair bit to starting a tank that should go on prior to having fish.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for the advice. Right now I only have one in there because I haven't added the other 3 yet. So basically, I should go ahead and add the other 3 and watch to see how they are. If they appear to be nipping at each other then I will need to get a longer tank, not really a deeper tank. Is that correct? Also, if I get a 10 US gallon tank (usually around 20-22 cm long) would it be ok to add up to 8 zebra danios total? Also, if and when I do up size the tank as long as the water chemistry is the same in the new tank can I just move them from one tank to the other or do I need to do something special?

 

[wiggy742]

Hi

I have 4 zebras in my 16gal and can confirm they love bombing around like nutters, often chasing in tandem around my Biorb. Also when i put anything in the water like test tubes or the water syphon they quickly gather round and try to get in them! They never cease to amaze me how bold they are. I also have a Dwarf gourami with them and when he comes out to swim they will quickly move out of the way, Never nipped or harassed him (3 female and 1 male).

So although my tank might be a bit small, they seem happy enough with no aggression, just my opinion of course!

 

[waterdrop]

I've seen differing opinions on minimum tank sizes and shapes for zebra danios. The main factor discussed is the horizontal swimming space. These are very fast minnow-like fish that clearly enjoy opening up the speed when given space and distance. As a result its pretty common to see sizes such as a "30 US gallon long" type tank advised as the minimum for a group of zebras. These danios are not shoaling fish strictly speaking but they benefit from larger groupings and you will usually see 6 listed as a good minumum grouping. In addition to being fast, they are also often thought of as mostly surface fish, but they do in fact go exploring at different times of the day and can be seen picking at the substrate quite regularly or coasting through the mid-levels, especially if there are plants and decorations. They get nice looking yellow edgings on their fins as they get more mature.

I hate to say it but the tanks you are discussing would not really be comfortable habitats for these fish, even in smaller groupings (as you have less fish, below 6 or so, they will mostly become a little more unruly with the other fish in the community although its mostly their speed that can become bothersome, rather than nipping or other things. Probably closer observers could say more.) All this is really unfortunate since these are quite hardy and excellent beginner fish from a water chemistry standpoint!

By the way, I'd guess that you might benefit greatly from reading our articles on the Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling and Fish-In Cycling Situations in our Beginners Resource Center and discussing some of the questions you have from these here in your thread. There's a fair bit to starting a tank that should go on prior to having fish.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for the advice. Right now I only have one in there because I haven't added the other 3 yet. So basically, I should go ahead and add the other 3 and watch to see how they are. If they appear to be nipping at each other then I will need to get a longer tank, not really a deeper tank. Is that correct? Also, if I get a 10 US gallon tank (usually around 20-22 cm long) would it be ok to add up to 8 zebra danios total? Also, if and when I do up size the tank as long as the water chemistry is the same in the new tank can I just move them from one tank to the other or do I need to do something special?

No, what I'm saying, but not very forcefully, is that a lot of experienced aquarists on TFF would probably tell you simply not to have zebra danios in a tank that has less length than a 20 or 30 gallon tank (it being about the length, not the volume... in other words a -tall- tank wouldn't earn one the right to have danios.) They would say to try and trade the fish back in at the LFS for other choices. Now, personally, I have a hard time repeating this advice because I, like many, have had danios in smaller tanks that seemed to do fine, but I can understand the advice and I guess we each just have to make our own choice about it. Eight would be a lot for a 10g unless they were the only fish in there. If the water chem and temp are the same (say, you are moving a lot of the old water over too) then yes, you can just net them over, otherwise bag and float them as you would new fish.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rebrn]

I've seen differing opinions on minimum tank sizes and shapes for zebra danios. The main factor discussed is the horizontal swimming space. These are very fast minnow-like fish that clearly enjoy opening up the speed when given space and distance. As a result its pretty common to see sizes such as a "30 US gallon long" type tank advised as the minimum for a group of zebras. These danios are not shoaling fish strictly speaking but they benefit from larger groupings and you will usually see 6 listed as a good minumum grouping. In addition to being fast, they are also often thought of as mostly surface fish, but they do in fact go exploring at different times of the day and can be seen picking at the substrate quite regularly or coasting through the mid-levels, especially if there are plants and decorations. They get nice looking yellow edgings on their fins as they get more mature.

I hate to say it but the tanks you are discussing would not really be comfortable habitats for these fish, even in smaller groupings (as you have less fish, below 6 or so, they will mostly become a little more unruly with the other fish in the community although its mostly their speed that can become bothersome, rather than nipping or other things. Probably closer observers could say more.) All this is really unfortunate since these are quite hardy and excellent beginner fish from a water chemistry standpoint!

By the way, I'd guess that you might benefit greatly from reading our articles on the Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling and Fish-In Cycling Situations in our Beginners Resource Center and discussing some of the questions you have from these here in your thread. There's a fair bit to starting a tank that should go on prior to having fish.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for the advice. Right now I only have one in there because I haven't added the other 3 yet. So basically, I should go ahead and add the other 3 and watch to see how they are. If they appear to be nipping at each other then I will need to get a longer tank, not really a deeper tank. Is that correct? Also, if I get a 10 US gallon tank (usually around 20-22 cm long) would it be ok to add up to 8 zebra danios total? Also, if and when I do up size the tank as long as the water chemistry is the same in the new tank can I just move them from one tank to the other or do I need to do something special?

No, what I'm saying, but not very forcefully, is that a lot of experienced aquarists on TFF would probably tell you simply not to have zebra danios in a tank that has less length than a 20 or 30 gallon tank (it being about the length, not the volume... in other words a -tall- tank wouldn't earn one the right to have danios.) They would say to try and trade the fish back in at the LFS for other choices. Now, personally, I have a hard time repeating this advice because I, like many, have had danios in smaller tanks that seemed to do fine, but I can understand the advice and I guess we each just have to make our own choice about it. Eight would be a lot for a 10g unless they were the only fish in there. If the water chem and temp are the same (say, you are moving a lot of the old water over too) then yes, you can just net them over, otherwise bag and float them as you would new fish.

~~waterdrop~~

Great thanks that is exactly what I was thinking as well, longer not taller (length not volume). The zebra danios would be the only fish in the longer (probably 10-12 gallon) tank as I have read they are easy fish to keep and I definately want easy, at least for now. I have a friend that is very experienced with keeping fish, and he basically said the same thing. That I should be fine with 4 in the 5 gallon but as they grow I would want to consider putting them in a longer tank, and at that point if I wanted to but 4 more in that should be fine if they were the only fish in the tank. Right now the one I have is fairly small, and when I get the other 3 I will get them from the same store so I am guessing that they will not be fully grown eithor. I know the zebra danios grow to approximately 2 inches, and right now the only one in the tank is about an inch. So I guess in about a month, by that time I will have the other 3 and they would have all grown I will be getting ready to transfer them to the larger tank. Thank you so much for your advise