Zebra Danios

[gem400]

I have a small group of youg zebra danios. I have kept these fish before with no problems, but since I got them a week ago they have been very aggressive towards each other. Now I have added a group of guppys and now they are the latest target! Are they just going through a phase? If not they will have to go.

 

[WILDER]

First off post test results in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, what size is the tank, how many males to females.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

to the forum. Introduce yourself in the newbie section.

How many of these guys do you have? If you have less than 6, then you should get it up to 6. If you have more than that, then you have to wait for them to set up a pecking order. That way they will take their aggresison out on each other and not other fish.

 

[Lateral Line]

Many Danios, and sadly most other "safe" trops will have a go at a trailing fin. If you have a small group, less then 6, you may correct it by getting more. Be aware, most fish will nip a trailing fin.

 

[sylvia]

My zebra danios have never nipped anything but each other. However, if you keeep them alone in a tank for any period of time, they start to loose their schooling behaviour and actualy become territorial. When you then add new fish, and especialy if they are slow-moving or long-finned like guppies, they feel they are tresspassing on their territory and it takes a while before they settle down and realise they're meant to be peaceful shoaling fish. Also, you must keep zebra danios in a tank of at least 20 gallons and in at elast a group of 5. The space is essential as they are active and become frustrated and 'aggressive' (maybe nippy is more the word) in smaller spaces and keeping them in a group makes them happier and keeps them out of trouble.

 

[Cathydiane]

Sylvia,

How can I tell the male zebra danios from the female when I go to purchase them? And, while I'm here Should I put the cory catfish in my new tank first or the zebra danios? I intend on getting 6 cory's and at LEAST 6 zebra danios. OR, if the tank if cycled, which it will be for I will do the fishless cycling, can I put the cory's and zebra's in at the same time, or would that cause too much of a ammonia spike? Thanks

 

[sylvia]

Add the danios first as cories can be sensitive to bad water quality while danios are incredibly hardy. If you cycle your tank with enough ammonia, you can add all the fish at once but I'd encourage you to add them a few at a time anyway. If you only use a little bit or something like fish food which you can't realy predict, you should add the fish a few at a time.

You can tell zebra danios apart because you'll notice that females are much deeper-bodied, larger and fuller than males who are longer, smaller, slimmer and more stream-lined in appearance. If they are long-finned, the males, you'll notice, also have longer fins than the females (this isn't evident in the ordinary zebras though). Another thing to look for is the background color on the females being more silver while the males are more gold - unfortunately you need good lighting to see this so it may be difficult to tell at your LFS and it isn't always reliable - I wish I had pics of my danios now though - it's realy obvious which are male and which are female once you know what to look for...

The Wolf has a great site all about danios and I'm sure there's a pic with a male and female zebra danio in it for comparison.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

my experience with the fish is they like to play "tag" but mine only chase each other but i have 5 and a fairly large tank

 

[The-Wolf]

I think Silvia has covered the answers here,
so all I'll add it a picture to show male and felmale.

female is in the forground

 

[Cathydiane]

Thanks Wolf and Sylvia,

I'll buy the danio's after the tank is cycled and the cory's later. You read my signature, is there anything there that won't work?

I wanted and longed for bala sharks but truly doubt I could afford a tank long enough for them. But, I've read that bala sharks will eat snails and that wouldn't work with my apple snails.

Thanks Again

 

[gem400]

My zebra danio problem seems to be calming down. The guppys seem to have gained confidance overnight, and are fighting back! I think that the danios have learned their lesson. Hopefully won't have more problems. The guppys are fine as I only have one male with four females. And my water at the moment is spot on, though I m keeping a VERY close eye on it.