lisasfishies

I have 5 zebra danios in a 10 gallon tank. I got started with 2 when the tank had finished cycling and then added 3 more. The 5 have been in the tank together for a few weeks. I didn't pay any attention to whether they were male or female when I bought them, but I think I have 4 females and 1 male.
All of a sudden one of the females is chasing all of the other female fish to the point that they are all hiding. The male seems to be oblivious to this but is hovering around the tank, not really swimming around.
Is this odd behavior? I have been reading the forum and see that it is not unusual for danios to chase each other, but this seems excessive.

Thanks for the help - after thinkiing fish were easy and no prep was necessary - this forum has saved my sanity and the life of my fishies!

iloveengl

Hi Lisa. Welcome

Can you please list your readings for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The tank may be experiencing cycle fluctuations and that's causing bad attitudes.

Or it may be that she scattered eggs and she's trying to protect them. Mine did this. Once they're scattered and eaten, she should return to normal.

Hopefully it's temporary.

peacemaker92

WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

A list of your water parameters would really help as what ilovee mentioned.
Good luck!

Lucy

Hi Lisa welcome to FishLore!
I'm so glad you found the forum helpful.
Sometimes it takes a while for them to develop the hierarchy.
If it's excessive like you said, you can always try a fishy time out.
Sometimes it helps to move the aggressor for a couple of hours and rearrange some things in the tank.
It doesn't always help, but something you might want to try.
Good luck.

lisasfishies

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have been using test strips to check the water daily and there have been no changes. I have done a small water change every week.

They seem to have calmed down a little this morning. I will try the time out if I see it again.

Thanks. :-)

Tigerfishy

Mine's are nutcases as well. They like to go through phases. Sometimes they will chase each other like it's going out of fashion, other times they just swim about casually. It may be that yours are the same. Wish i could catch mine for a time out though !