Danio Help!

Hello! So glad to be part of the community!

I need help with my new Danios that I just got. I got 5 Danios for my 10 gallon, and do not plan on getting more, as I know not to overstock. Four of the Danios seem to be swimming happily, eating well, and playing. However, one of them prefers to be alone hiding, swimming alone, and sometimes doesn’t eat with the others. I keep careful watch of the group, and none seem to be bothering it.
Besides the fact that the single Danio is by itself, nothing else seems wrong with it. I’ve cycled my tank completely, and the ammonia and nitrites are at 0. The nitrates were increasing slightly, so I did my scheduled water change that I do on a weekly basis. What could be wrong? Or is this Danio just introverted?

Thanks!

 

I'm guessing internal parasites or another internal issue. It's not normal for one fish in a group of schooling fish to isolate itself.

 

Hello! So glad to be part of the community!

I need help with my new Danios that I just got. I got 5 Danios for my 10 gallon, and do not plan on getting more, as I know not to overstock. Four of the Danios seem to be swimming happily, eating well, and playing. However, one of them prefers to be alone hiding, swimming alone, and sometimes doesn’t eat with the others. I keep careful watch of the group, and none seem to be bothering it.
Besides the fact that the single Danio is by itself, nothing else seems wrong with it. I’ve cycled my tank completely, and the ammonia and nitrites are at 0. The nitrates were increasing slightly, so I did my scheduled water change that I do on a weekly basis. What could be wrong? Or is this Danio just introverted?

Thanks!

I would suggest you increase your school by 1/2 more Danios too, 5 is the minimum for them but I’m sure one more won’t hurt. In terms of the single Danio, he may well just be getting used to his new home. Although he may be ill, I’d also give it some time to see if he adjusts to you/your tank and slowly becomes more confident/playful-Danios May school and be active but each fish is unique!

 

Some fish get on better in their new environment then others, just be patient and give him time, had the same issue with a tetra and he was fine after a week or so.

 

I'm guessing internal parasites or another internal issue. It's not normal for one fish in a group of schooling fish to isolate itself.

That’s a shame! What parasite could it be, and what can I do to help? Maybe I should wait it out?

I would suggest you increase your school by 1/2 more Danios too, 5 is the minimum for them but I’m sure one more won’t hurt. In terms of the single Danio, he may well just be getting used to his new home. Although he may be ill, I’d also give it some time to see if he adjusts to you/your tank and slowly becomes more confident/playful-Danios May school and be active but each fish is unique!

Thank you! This is reassuring. I will wait it out and see if it gets more confident!

Hello,

I am sad to say that my isolated fish died. I found him a few minutes ago stuck on the filter intake. I heard this happens when fish are ill and can’t swim well. I suppose it could have been an internal issue. Can they come with these issues when store-bought? I do not think it was from my tank, because the levels are good. However, I have a few detritus worms, but they are under control and I rarely see them. I also know that these worms do not harm fish, even when eaten. What do you all think?

 

It happens all the time, yes it was likely from the store. It might have been a weeker fish from birth, it might have had an injury, it might have some internal issues, they are a million possibilities.
the minimum for a school of schooling fish is six, but danios are active and tend do be fin nippy in a school of less then 8.
I would not recomend danios for a tank less then 20 gallons or less then 30 inches long.

 

That’s a shame! What parasite could it be, and what can I do to help? Maybe I should wait it out?


Thank you! This is reassuring. I will wait it out and see if it gets more confident!

Hello,

I am sad to say that my isolated fish died. I found him a few minutes ago stuck on the filter intake. I heard this happens when fish are ill and can’t swim well. I suppose it could have been an internal issue. Can they come with these issues when store-bought? I do not think it was from my tank, because the levels are good. However, I have a few detritus worms, but they are under control and I rarely see them. I also know that these worms do not harm fish, even when eaten. What do you all think?

I'm very sorry to hear he passed. I definitely think it was something he already had, especially if you got him from a place that doesn't quarantine their fish, such as the chain stores. A lot of times inexpensive fish like Zebra Danios are shipped to the stores in large numbers with only a few bags, so they are very susceptible to issues like bacterial infections. Also if the fish wasn't genetically healthy to begin with, the stress could have done him in.

 

Hello,

Thanks for all the help so far! So the Danios I have are glofish Danios, so they are zebra Danios that are genetically modified to glow in black light. Could I replace my one glofish danio that passed with a regular zebra danio? Will they still school? With Danios being a fish that is not handled the best in stores, I’d like to make some cost efficient choices. I love these little guys, so I’m wondering if switching to regular zebra Danios would be a good idea?

 

Hello,

Thanks for all the help so far! So the Danios I have are glofish Danios, so they are zebra Danios that are genetically modified to glow in black light. Could I replace my one glofish danio that passed with a regular zebra danio? Will they still school? With Danios being a fish that is not handled the best in stores, I’d like to make some cost efficient choices. I love these little guys, so I’m wondering if switching to regular zebra Danios would be a good idea?

You can replace it with a zebra because they are all Danio rerio. Danio rerio comes in 2 patterns zebra and leopard between those there are 8 color variations (natural, albino, xanthic, and the 5 glo colors) I have a mixed tank of danio colors and patterns and they do great. They were modified with a jellyfish gene to give them the glow colors. Would suggest upgrading to a 20 gallon or bigger for them if possible.

 

You can replace it with a zebra because they are all Danio rerio. Danio rerio comes in 2 patterns zebra and leopard between those there are 8 color variations (natural, albino, xanthic, and the 5 glo colors) I have a mixed tank of danio colors and patterns and they do great. They were modified with a jellyfish gene to give them the glow colors. Would suggest upgrading to a 20 gallon or bigger for them if possible.

Thanks for the help!