Fry sticking to the top of the tank

[BrookeLea]

I have a 10 gallon fry tank with 6 molly fry and 15 guppy fry. I'm neurotic about counting them to make sure that they're all still there, so I count them multiple times daily. They stay swimming at the top of the tank, so I have to lift the lid to count them. Every now and then the larger molly fry swim down a bit, but they soon go straight back up to the top. Is this normal behavior? (For the fry, not for me, as I realize that this counting thing is neurotic. haha)

Right now the tank only has a thin layer of gravel at the bottom and no plants. Maybe they would like plants? Would that keep them from sticking to the top?

 

[terrorist_124]

do you have a source of air
like an airstone



i have some guppy fry and they mostly stay at the top

 

[William]

They like something to hide underneath so plants or even a small amount of large marbles would do a treat.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What temp is the tank set at and does it have filtration?
It will also probably be worth checking out ammonia and nitrite levels too.
I would also advise putting some plants in as either way they will appreiciate it alot

 

[MissD]

My guppy fry all dart to the top for feeding time, but they're usually found digging in their gravel or sitting in their plants. They're in a 5 gallon at the moment with 2 plastic plants and a little flower pot to sit in...maybe yours would like a similar set-up? It's worth a try and at the end of the day my plants and flower pots together were less than $5CAD...

 

[BrookeLea]

Hey everyone, thanks for the help. The temp sticks around between 78 and 80 degrees. There's a Whisper filter with a stocking over the vents so that the fry don't get sucked in. The amonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph are perfect in the tank.

I don't have an air stone. I did have just a regular air hose connected to an air pump, but I took it out. When it was in, they still hovered around the top. Should I put it back in or add an air stone? I have one of those bubble walls. Should I put that in there? I wasn't sure if all the bubbles would bother them.

I'll give the little guys some plants, rocks and marbles to hang out in. I felt bad for putting them in such a bare tank, but I read somewhere (can't remember where) that it was best not to put anything in there. The poor little things don't seem to appreciate that, though.

Thanks again!

 

[BrookeLea]

I put in a small plastic plant, a pile of rocks and marbles, a really little piece of drift wood and a bubble wall. When the bubble wall was turned on, it seemed to be creating too much of a stir. Since I turned it off, though, it seems to be their favorite thing in the tank! They're not bothering with the plant, the rocks or the driftwood, but they're swimming all around now and they like to hang out on the bubble wall stone. They're swimming everywhere and they look so much happier! It's great! The only thing is...now it's almost impossible to count them. haha

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Good to hear they have perked up a bit