Zebra Danio

[Sarah C Mckee]

Hey all! I have a zebra danio that is being really aggressive and nipping at all my fish, one of his own has scratch marks on his body and I’m trying to separate them and put him in my QT tank for now but he won’t let me catch him, I’m worried about stressing the others out trying to catch him. I’ve been trying to catch him for two days and he is so dang fast and books it and hides. Anyone have any tips ? At this

 

[Byron]

How many of this species do you have? And what is the tank size? And what other fish are in the tank?

 

[Sarah C Mckee]

29 gallon
Tank 3 corys 7 harlequin 1 gourami 2 danios trying to finish stalking my schooling fish. But after seeing my danios and their personality, I don’t want to add any more of them. I’ve watched them in the store too thinking if I buy more he would stop and even with a tank full of them they are too energetic and aggressive for my liking. I was just going to keep them in my QT tank or donate them back to store. However little guy won’t let me catch him.

 

[JuiceBox52]

29 gallon
Tank 3 corys 7 harlequin 1 gourami 2 danios trying to finish stalking my schooling fish. But after seeing my danios and their personality, I don’t want to add any more of them. I’ve watched them in the store too thinking if I buy more he would stop and even with a tank full of them they are too energetic and aggressive for my liking. I was just going to keep them in my QT tank or donate them back to store. However little guy won’t let me catch him.

I would return him to the store along with the other one. Danios can be great fish but I stopped keeping them after one turned and killed all other 6 of his danio buddies and 2 of my neon tetras. Also, consider getting more corys for your tank. You have enough space and they do so much better in larger groups

 

[Sarah C Mckee]

I would return him to the store along with the other one. Danios can be great fish but I stopped keeping them after one turned and killed all other 6 of his danio buddies and 2 of my neon tetras. Also, consider getting more corys for your tank. You have enough space and they do so much better in larger groups

I’m trying to return him if I can catch the dang guy!! Haha I definitely am adding more corys, I want the same kind and they were out of stock when I went back to get more so I’ll try again next week to get 3 more I love those guys!

 

[Byron]

I agree, the two zebra danios need to be removed. This is a very active swimming fish, it needs a group of six or more, and it will annoy (to say the least) the quieter fish like rasboras and gourami.

The easiest way to catch fish is to use both hands and a large net. Place the net down on the substrate with one endge against the front glass. Make sure the net is fully extended, and keep it steady. Use ytour other hand to guide the fish into the net. I am right handed, so I prefer holding the net with that hand and using the left to drive the fish around the end of the tank and into the net.

 

[Sarah C Mckee]

I am going on 3 days of trying to catch him even have tried to bribe with food. Haha I don’t want to have to remove the decorations or my plants that are rooted and he keeps hiding in them

 

[Byron]

I am going on 3 days of trying to catch him even have tried to bribe with food. Haha I don’t want to have to remove the decorations or my plants that are rooted and he keeps hiding in them

The method I described above gets around this. You can use your left hand to herd him along the glass and if you don't move the net he will likely swim right in, then quickly close it against the glass so he can't swim out.

 

[Sarah C Mckee]

The method I described above gets around this. You can use your left hand to herd him along the glass and if you don't move the net he will likely swim right in, then quickly close it against the glass so he can't swim out.

I Got
Him!!!!

 

[Retired Viking]

I Got
Him!!!!

 

[Byron]

I didn't mention something earlier because by the time we learned of the numbers you had already decided to return the zebra danio. But the aggressive behaviour you noticed is common when a shoaling species does not have a decent number (six is the oft-recommended minimum, a few more will always be even better). Problem solved now though.

 

[Sarah C Mckee]

I didn't mention something earlier because by the time we learned of the numbers you had already decided to return the zebra danio. But the aggressive behaviour you noticed is common when a shoaling species does not have a decent number (six is the oft-recommended minimum, a few more will always be even better). Problem solved now though.

I actually went to buy more originally because I thought this was the case too but then when I stood there watching them in the tank at the store they all were kind of shooting and darting at each other and there was a ton of them in the tank, I decided I didn’t like their personality and that I didn’t want to buy more of them.

 

[Byron]

I actually went to buy more originally because I thought this was the case too but then when I stood there watching them in the tank at the store they all were kind of shooting and darting at each other and there was a ton of them in the tank, I decided I didn’t like their personality and that I didn’t want to buy more of them.

A good decision. They are a very active swimming fish, and this alone can be a problem as I mentioned earlier for more sedate fish. But the larger group of a shoaling species usually confines the "play" to within the species, though nothing is guaranteed.