Weird Behaviour In Leopard Danios?

[ey2006]

I recently got a large group of Leopard danios and they have been swimming hyperactively ever since!

However, they initially swam and schooled together but I just noticed that sometimes they would break up into smaller groups and one of them would sometimes be on its own....it doesn't look sick or anything, just not swimming with the others. As the others are swimming at 100km per hour (j/k), maybe this lone danio is tired from all the swimming and is simply taking a break?

Another thing is, I thought all danios swam at the top of the tank? At first, my danios swam around the top half of the tank, but lately, they have started swimming on the gravel/substrate and are digging it looking for food! Is this normal?

Finally, I never really noticed this with the danios when I see them at the LFS, but they actually have little barbels!

 

[Barracuda518]

Mine swim all over the tank, from the top to the bottom. They also split up and go on thier own all the time. The schooling is a defense they use when they feel threatened. If they split up, then that may mean they are happy in their surroundings.

 

[ey2006]

Mine swim all over the tank, from the top to the bottom. They also split up and go on thier own all the time. The schooling is a defense they use when they feel threatened. If they split up, then that may mean they are happy in their surroundings.

Hi Barracuda518, I just checked on the danios and when I walked up and turned the lights on, they all started gathering together at the top, as if they were expecting their meal!

After feedin them, they split and some of them were chasing each other around, though it looked friendly and nothing serious.

Their fast movements are also making my platies and neon swimming faster than before! hehe

Another thing I've noticed is that danios eat their food in a funny way? Instead of swimming up to their food and eating it, they tend to make a funny movement when they eat their food, almost like they are twisting their bodies...is this normal?

 

[millym]

sounds like normal danio behaviour. we used to have a large school of zebra & leopard danios but sadly started losing them for no apparent reason ( all started getting dropsy & doing a lot of research i found we were not the only people having similar probs ).
we have a fluval internal filter as well as our external & every now & again we'd turn up the flow it ws fantastic to watch all the danios playing in the current they obviously LOVED it.
we'd love to try getting some again but are very wary. theyre fantastic little fish to have

 

[ey2006]

sounds like normal danio behaviour. we used to have a large school of zebra & leopard danios but sadly started losing them for no apparent reason ( all started getting dropsy & doing a lot of research i found we were not the only people having similar probs ).
we have a fluval internal filter as well as our external & every now & again we'd turn up the flow it ws fantastic to watch all the danios playing in the current they obviously LOVED it.
we'd love to try getting some again but are very wary. theyre fantastic little fish to have

hi millym, i think the danios have settled right in now! i saw them chasing each other yesterday and crashing into each other! I was worried at first, but then realised they were probably playing hide and seek with each other or establishing the pecking order. either way, it was a great sight!

i'm planning to add a group of zebras with them so can't wait to see what happens then!

very sorry to hear about your danios, you said you started losing them for no reason...is there any way to prevent this? how long did you have them before they started dying? i thought danios were the hardiest fish there are?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Just a matter of establishing pecking order/ normal danio behavior. They sound healthy and very active.