Dominant Zebra Danio?

[HawkEye]

I have a 40 gal tank currently cycling for 7 days with 3 zebra danios. The Amonia read .25 last night (I don't have a nitrite test kit yet and the pH is 7.6 normal for my area...)

My question is that 1 of the danios seems to be VERY dominant and is chasing the other 2 fish ALOT...they all chased each other ever since I first got them but it seems to be more now...the other 2 don't seem to hide from the dominant one just swim away when chased and then turn around and look at him/her as if to say "OH Yea!! The fish don't seem to be stressed but my biggest concern is that this is beginning to happen during feeding time...I don't want the 2 fish to starve...

Is this normal behavior for danios or is it possible that 3 just aren't enough for this type of fish? I really don't want to get more until the tank finishes cycling...

thx

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi HawkEye ,

You have answered your own question.....

This is normal behaviour for danios and as you say 3 isn't really enough for a shoaling fish and therefore their chaseing isn't spread over more individuals and one will soon be more dominant with just the 3 make sense?

Though I'd let things be untill your tank is cycled....

 

[HawkEye]

Thx wet,

I just wanted to make sure my info was correct... 8)

 

[juliethegr8t]

I had the same problem when I had 2 Zebras and one Tiger Barb. One of the Zebras just decided he wanted to be head honcho and made sure all the other fish knew it! Now I have a school of 6, and everybody is pretty happy since he doesn't spend a bunch of attention on them. From what I've read, you should have a minimum of 6, so when you finish cycling, add some more and everything should be good! As for your feeding problem, just try to spread the food over a larger area so they can grab some before he jumps in.. that's what I did and it seemed to work alright . Good luck!

 

[val]

Whenever one of my fish seems timid around feeding time, I just put some food in the path of the filter and the water rush pushes the food down to the bottom where they're not afraid to get food. But it may be different with your fish. I had livebearers.

Valerie