ok im currently going into my second week of cycling my 90g tank, in the tank i have 5 zebra danios and 1 JD about 2 inches long, i just put the JD in today my gf insisted on it. all my water reading semms to be cool, the ammonia is rising but its so low that it shouldnt be causing a problem, then again im using the test strips and ive heard they are kindof hit & miss. the danios act as if they couldnt be happier, so does the JD excluding his initial hour long shy spell. Hes out and about now all over the place but he keeps going up and down the face of the tank, i mean hes not doing it 100 percent of the time but he will do it every now & then, its kindof weird. it looks like hes trying to jump out of the tank or something. Is this type of swimming behavior normal? anything i should be concerned with? If you think its the ammonia or something like i said im using the test strips but i do have a master test kit coming in the mail, it should be here between thu and tue, ill post up the results as soon as i get it. Thanks for any help, i really like this lil dude.
Jack Dempsey Vertical Swimming???
- Thread starter v3n0m
- Start date
I would guess it's due to the ammonia. Some fish will stay near the top the of waters surface when ammonia levels are high. Make sure to do water changes of at least 20 percent every now and then. I wouldn't allow the ammonia to go any higher than 1 ppm.
That is how Dempsey's act.
They aren't much different on the personality factor then an Oscar.
Either way you should of waited. I'd be doing a 25% water change everyday.
And he's saying... feed me!
They aren't much different on the personality factor then an Oscar.
Either way you should of waited. I'd be doing a 25% water change everyday.
And he's saying... feed me!
yeh i know i should have waited man but...oh well my ammpnia is currently at a lil under .5ppm, do i need to go ahead and do a water change?vaine111;3966586; said:
Yeah. Keep it closer to 0.2. If you remove it all, the tank will never cycle. But even low ammonia is awful on their gills. It will leave scars in the gill tissues that will forever affect his ability to breathe. Think emphysema. That's why it's better to cycle first. You should send your girlfriend this way and maybe she'll let you move the little guy into safer quarters.
Sounds to me like you are already on the ball. I suspect you learned about cycling after adding the fish? Don't feel bad. I did the same thing with my first tank. Those fish survived the cycle, but died within the next year or so. But as long as you keep the ammonia low while allowing the nitrifiers to establish themselves in your media, yes, the fish ought to be fine for now.
The swimming against the glass is usually exploratory. After a few days, many fish realize they cannot pass through the wall and quit trying. Plenty of fish always do it, though, especially 'smarter' fish like South American cichlids. If he starts doing a vertical float, tail-down and looking paralyzed, then you've got problems. Otherwise, he's probably just settling in. Sounds like a nice setup you're planning. Love JD's.
Sounds to me like you are already on the ball. I suspect you learned about cycling after adding the fish? Don't feel bad. I did the same thing with my first tank. Those fish survived the cycle, but died within the next year or so. But as long as you keep the ammonia low while allowing the nitrifiers to establish themselves in your media, yes, the fish ought to be fine for now.
The swimming against the glass is usually exploratory. After a few days, many fish realize they cannot pass through the wall and quit trying. Plenty of fish always do it, though, especially 'smarter' fish like South American cichlids. If he starts doing a vertical float, tail-down and looking paralyzed, then you've got problems. Otherwise, he's probably just settling in. Sounds like a nice setup you're planning. Love JD's.
vaine111;3966586; said:
lol about the feeding part someone else told me that, and i did it and he ate like freakin crazy but i still think hes hungry. my problem is the food im giving him is like crack cocaine to the danios they go crazy for it. should i just give it to him anyway and if they eat their self into an early grave oh well? i know hes still hungry, hes puttin off that vibe ya know?
No. Feed lightly while cycling to control ammonia output. Obviously, be sure he eats a little, but don't over do it. Danios in a 90g? I guess, even stuffed to the max, they won't put out much waste. Your call. Less feeding or more water changes. That's the name of the game for any tank, anyway.
EDIT:
I'd just do a 50% for now. Then wait a day and do another if ammonia is still .2ppm or more. Let the ammonia be your guide for now. Also, watch the pH when you add new water. If there are big swings, we'll address that then. Just so that I don't have to wish I'd said it, don't forget the dechlorinator.
