I wanted to get some danios maybe about 10 and wondered if i got some different types wether it would constitute a school. I know that leopards and zebras would, but i wanted to also get some pearls and some glowlights (if i can find them in the uk). I don't want any of those horrid glofish, they look like a dodgy experiment. Can anyone give advice please.
Danios
- Thread starter jkb1977
- Start date
Might be an idea to tell us the dimensions of your tank.
I have read that zebra and leopard danios need a recommended minimum of 90cms length of tank by virtue of the fact they are a speedy fish and need a fair bit of tank length to swim in.
David
I have read that zebra and leopard danios need a recommended minimum of 90cms length of tank by virtue of the fact they are a speedy fish and need a fair bit of tank length to swim in.
David
+1, and current stock as active danios are not compatible with all fish because of their level of activity.
Basically, a zebra danio can easily cross a 4-5 ft tank in under a second. What would it do in a smaller tank? Go around in circles, which gets boring for fish and owner alike. Also, they cannot really develop properly without the space to swim. So, I would personally never keep them in a tank any shorter than 120-150 cm.
No, a mix of different species does not constitute a school. If kept in small groups, both leopard and zebra danios will school together, but it is better to keep enough of each species that they can school with their own kind as that is their preference. If I had a short tank (under 120 cm long), I would be quite happy to look at Danio spp., but I would be looking at less active species or smaller species (of which there are plenty).
I would not want to keep zebra or leopard danios in that tank. I recommend that you look at Danio choprae, D. margaritatus and D. erythromicron, but my personal top choice would be Danio tinwini (assuming they're suitable for mixing with existing stock).
Just a heads up with the D. Choprae, they are slightly territorial, not continuously or very aggressively but can still have timid fish cowered in one corner of the tank for periods at a time.
A much more community friendly danio as an alternative would be Danio Hikari. They are pretty hardy and can look after themselves and don't trouble any other species in my experience.
The only difficulty is in finding these more suitable varieties.
Good luck with your choice anyway, you have a good variety here to choose from.
Just to be clear, are you referring to other species? In what size tank and groups was this behaviour noted?
My research tells me that Danio sp. 'hikari' is another one like zebras: active and on the larger side of things.
http
/www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/profiles/glowlight-danio/I have witnessed this too in various settings and groups.
The Hikari is very peaceful by comparison, same setting similar size groups, nowhere near as active as the Zebra about the same as the Choprae. The girls are greedy gerts the same as the Choprae.
Is this not what you were asking?
Such as…? It would be really nice to have some solid numbers to consider
The link you gave doesn't specify if the aggression is con-specific or cross-species, nor what sort of territories the males should have.Mmm, strange, it seems my edit was not added to my previous post after all even though it appeared it had when I posted it.
In a nutshell I was not 100% sure I had the Hikari after all. I had been sold them as Hikari a couple of years ago by Ferrybridge. After looking them up again just now things are still not clear, they may well be these http/www.danionins.com/fish/danio-nigrofasciatus.html or a morph/ cross of the two. Anyway, they are a more peaceful fish than the choprae but about the same size and less energetic than the zebra and associated morphs.
It was suggested on one website that with the number of new Danios emerging from Asia it might end up we need to use a system similar to the 'L' numbering. There have been some fantastic Danios introduced to the aquarium scene in the last decade.
You're right, there simply aren't any sites that give a great deal of information on any of the more recent Danios, each of the info. sheets appear to be a re-hash of the other common Danios where slightly different behavioural traits are not identified. That was the only site I have seen that states this territorial behaviour but is not particularly accurate in this statement, in my current opinion, if not a little vague. If you find anything better then let us know.
I will inform you of my observations on the Choprae Danio.
Like alot of other similar Danios the females are the boss the majority of the time. Thus the Alpha female takes prime position and claims a territorial stake in open water directly in the fastest flow (Probably because this position gives first pickings to foodstuff blown about). She chases any fish that will retreat quickly out of this territory but will target other Danios primarily. Anything slow and/ or daft (e.g. Shrimp) are largely ignored. Beta female gets second best nearby and down the order to the males who also have territories but aren't as vigilant and as usual are more interested in checking out girls and showing off to other males. Moving filter outlets and installing tall furniture changes the territory location and size respectfully. They do not continuously patrol and seem to take up 'residence' mainly during lights on.
This territorial behaviour is unique that I have seen in all Danios I have kept over many years including Zebra (And its many morphs), Pearl, Celestial Pearl, Hikari (Or Nigrofasciatus whichever they are).
I cannot give any further info. or state this is definitive as they are only young (6 - 12 months-ish probably) and only 6 in number (3m & 3f) which I doubt I will be increasing due to this behaviour and if they start causing damage will be returned. Sited in a 3' establishing planted tank. I also observed the same characteristics when they were sited in a small 30l quarantine tank and have since also observed it in the LFS but it isn't as obvious due to the high population. Most of the tank inhabitants are other Danios. Hopefully as they age they will calm.
Hope this helps the OP as well in their choice.
In a nutshell I was not 100% sure I had the Hikari after all. I had been sold them as Hikari a couple of years ago by Ferrybridge. After looking them up again just now things are still not clear, they may well be these http
/www.danionins.com/fish/danio-nigrofasciatus.html or a morph/ cross of the two. Anyway, they are a more peaceful fish than the choprae but about the same size and less energetic than the zebra and associated morphs.It was suggested on one website that with the number of new Danios emerging from Asia it might end up we need to use a system similar to the 'L' numbering. There have been some fantastic Danios introduced to the aquarium scene in the last decade.
You're right, there simply aren't any sites that give a great deal of information on any of the more recent Danios, each of the info. sheets appear to be a re-hash of the other common Danios where slightly different behavioural traits are not identified. That was the only site I have seen that states this territorial behaviour but is not particularly accurate in this statement, in my current opinion, if not a little vague. If you find anything better then let us know.
I will inform you of my observations on the Choprae Danio.
Like alot of other similar Danios the females are the boss the majority of the time. Thus the Alpha female takes prime position and claims a territorial stake in open water directly in the fastest flow (Probably because this position gives first pickings to foodstuff blown about). She chases any fish that will retreat quickly out of this territory but will target other Danios primarily. Anything slow and/ or daft (e.g. Shrimp) are largely ignored. Beta female gets second best nearby and down the order to the males who also have territories but aren't as vigilant and as usual are more interested in checking out girls and showing off to other males. Moving filter outlets and installing tall furniture changes the territory location and size respectfully. They do not continuously patrol and seem to take up 'residence' mainly during lights on.
This territorial behaviour is unique that I have seen in all Danios I have kept over many years including Zebra (And its many morphs), Pearl, Celestial Pearl, Hikari (Or Nigrofasciatus whichever they are).
I cannot give any further info. or state this is definitive as they are only young (6 - 12 months-ish probably) and only 6 in number (3m & 3f) which I doubt I will be increasing due to this behaviour and if they start causing damage will be returned. Sited in a 3' establishing planted tank. I also observed the same characteristics when they were sited in a small 30l quarantine tank and have since also observed it in the LFS but it isn't as obvious due to the high population. Most of the tank inhabitants are other Danios. Hopefully as they age they will calm.
Hope this helps the OP as well in their choice.
pdludbrooke
Fish Crazy
I have 10 zebra danios in a L80cm D30 H 50 and they are fine along with 7 cherry barbs 7 xrays 2 otocinclus and 1 blue siamese fighter, the xrays shoal with them alot, their very happy, the tank is the one below in my signiture
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