What's Wrong With Them (if Anything)

[kakihara]

Hi,

I recently bought 3 long finned Zebra Danios for my 60 litre Hexagon Tank which has been running now for over 2 weeks. I know that they are usually known as upper tank dwellers, however they have taken a liking to the bottom of my tank for some reason (well one in particular anyway, the biggest of the 3). It's mainly the area just around a plant that I have in there. This is to the dismay of my one remaining neon who thought that the bottom of the tank (and I suppose the rest of the tank too for that matter) belonged to him and who frequently moves into the space vacated by the big danio when he's busy chasing the other danios away.

Does anyone have any idea of what's going on?


Keith

 

[big mick]

We would need to see water stats to determine if there is a problem, danio's are usually very active andf it depends if the fish is 'sitting' at the bottom rather thasn swimming around the bottom.

What other fish do you have in with them, and water stats before we can help.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Buy some test kits from your local fish store for ammonia, nitrates and nitrites and post us your stats ASAP, do you use dechlorinator?

 

[The-Wolf]

Hi
sorry to inform you that a hex tank is not suitable for ZDs. they are an extreamly active fish and need length to zip around in (preferbly 24" at least).
Is it possible that you can return them or put them into a 2ft rectangular tank?

 

[kakihara]

Hi
sorry to inform you that a hex tank is not suitable for ZDs. they are an extreamly active fish and need length to zip around in (preferbly 24" at least).
Is it possible that you can return them or put them into a 2ft rectangular tank?

Oh great, more bad news!! I thought that they would be ok since they weren't that big. They are zipping around the tank alright. Unfortunately I doubt if I would be able to bring them back to the store. I did not know any other hardy fish, apart from Danios and possibly Platys to help in cycling the tank. What kind of fish would be suitable for this kind of tank?

To answer Tokis's question, yes I do use dechlorinator, I did a water change on sunday, before I put them in also. I had a water test done in the pet store before I bought the fish too as I had a lot deaths (7 out of 8 neons died). I had tested the water myself a day or 2 previously too, but I just wanted to make sure before I bought any more. PH, Nitrate, ammonia were all within the desired levels, the ammonia especially since I'd only one fish in the tank and he's not exactly crapping all over the place.

Big Mick, the danios aren't sitting on the bottom of the tank they just seem really interested in it, one in particular who seems to be guarding it and gets quite agressive if any other fish swims near it.

I don't know if it's anything to do with the fact that the filter on the tank seems to be quite strong and the fish have a hard time swimming at the top as they keep getting pushed down a couple of inches by the force of the water return, that's why they don't bother swimming up high, at least for an extended period of time.

While I'm here asking these quostions I have another, big bellies, what is the problem there, 2 of the danois and the neon have kind of big bellies, I just noticed this today, what is this?

Thanks

Keith

 

[The-Wolf]

I did not know any other hardy fish, apart from Danios and possibly Platys to help in cycling the tank. What kind of fish would be suitable for this kind of tank?

White cloud mountain minows (WCMMs)
Harliquin rasboras

the danios aren't sitting on the bottom of the tank they just seem really interested in it, one in particular who seems to be guarding it and gets quite agressive if any other fish swims near it.

aggressivness in zebra danios is a sign that they are not happy, in your case because the enviroment is too small.

While I'm here asking these quostions I have another, big bellies, what is the problem there, 2 of the danois and the neon have kind of big bellies, I just noticed this today, what is this?

females tend to be rotund compaired to males

 

[kakihara]

White cloud mountain minows (WCMMs)
Harliquin rasboras

I have checked out these fish and theylook nice, though I have never seen the minnows in any of the stores I have visited. The Harlequins would be easier to obtain. My tank is 13 Gallons so that would equate to around 12 - 13 fish of that size I would imagine. Though I would like at least 3 and maybe even 4 varieties altogether.


aggressivness in zebra danios is a sign that they are not happy, in your case because the enviroment is too small.

I might be (though I'm not counting my chickens) able to give those danois away. My girlfriends parents own a vison 180 tank so I think the danios would be a lot happier in there.


females tend to be rotund compaired to males


Interesting, so I may have 3 female fish and only 1 male in my tank?

I would REALLY like to get a Betta Splendins for my tank, though I do not know if the size would be suitable. I would plan on populating the tank with Neons, Harlequins (as per your advice) and a Fighter. I would get the mountain minnows if I could find them.

The only problems is that there's usually a minimum amount of each fish that you would need for the tank (I know that you need at least 6 tetras) and I don't want them to feel all squished. So if I picked the Hrelquins and the WCMM how many of each would I need?

K

 

[The-Wolf]

both harliquins and WCMMs are schooling fish, therfore the minimum number would be 5.
as your tank is quite small I would choose only one type; either wcmms or harliquins.

once all other fish are in then and only then would I try a betta.
I say try because some bettas just won't stand any tank mates.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Female bettas would be ok(but you'd need at least 4 to help spread the agression) but a male betta would be a definate no-no since the danios will nip its long flowing fins and male bettas don't compete well for food and don't like strong filter currents.
What are your exact stats for ammonia, nitrates and nitrites though?

 

[The-Wolf]

Tokis the danios are going to be re-homed, so there will be no fin nipping from them.

 

[beta 1991]

I agree. Hexagon tanks are not suitable for your fish. Hexagon tanks aren't really a good choice for the shape of a tank. Most fish prefer wide than tall, and hexagon tanks are not that wide. Also, it can be very hard to keep tropical fish in a hexagon tank. If you put in a heater, than the tank will get very warm, because there is not enough width for the light to be spread out, which gives much heat, than with the heater's heat added to it, than the tank will have a very high temperature. But to keep it warm besides a heater, the light will have to do. I am not saying to change ur tank, but be careful with the temperature in ur tank, and the fish that do best in these tanks.