Danio Shortage...should I Risk Walmart Fish?!

So my tank has been a disaster. Over the last six months I have slowly lost all my glofish and zebra danios. Except one. The indestructable fish. My only survivor who has outlived all others. It was one of the first fish I bought. Here I am with this one neon green glofish danio in a 20 gallon. I think perhaps this fish, who has always been the greediest eater and most aggressive in the tank, stressed the others out to much? I can't give "Green" back to the store now, and my kids have gotten kind of attached to it. Anyway, I am willing to give it one more try with this tank and this fish so I want to stock up with new danios (at least 5 more to start). I'd prefer more glofish for color or at least a few combined with regular zebra- but none of the local pet stores carry them anymore and their remaining stock looks iffy. The only place I have seen a new batch is Walmart believe it or not. Should I risk it?? I swore I'd never buy their fish. My husband says I should just try it- "survival of the fittest" philosophy.
If it weren't for this one fish, I'd start over with another type of fish but what I've read this danio would probably attack any other species.

 

If it weren't for this one fish, I'd start over with another type of fish but what I've read this danio would probably attack any other species.

In all of my years of having zebra and pearl danios I have never had an aggressive one. They will actively hunt and eat molly fry but have never bothered any other fish. I've never had a glofish danio so don't know if they are more or less aggressive. I do know danios are very active as in never still but normally they are just getting from point a to point b. They occasionally chase each other but I have never seen them actually try to hurt each other.

All of this to say. Take a good look at the fish at wal-mart. If there are a bunch of dead ones don't get any from there. If they look healthy get a few and see if they can live with your lone fish. It is possible that with a good school of them (at least 6 but preferably more than 6) your lone fish will be less aggressive.

 

It really depends on the store. There's 2 near me that have fish, one is great and the other is basically a fish cemetery. I will say that my longest surviving fish is a zebra danio that came from Walmart. That fish has been through at least 2 fish-in cycles and who knows how many times I accidently crashed my cycle. He's a huge jerk to the other fish though.

 

If I was you I wouldn't. The fish at my Wal-Mart are just too bad. Bought 5 cherry barbs from them and put them in quarentined and they were all dead by the next day maybe 2 days.
But it is a judgement call. Spend some time examining the fish. If there are any sick in any of the tanks I definitely wouldn't do it. The same if there are any dead.
If you do decide to do it make sure the employee takes water from the tanks to give you your fish. My store uses straight tap water with no declorinater. And make sure you quarantine just in case.
I wish you good luck in your quest for glodanios.

 

I have danios in my tank and yes they can be bullies. I have the long fin variety and they mostly chase each other with the Alpha one chasing away the smaller ones that try to school with them. you can try and add other fish but I would remove the bully, rearrange the aquarium decorations, put the new fish in and them add back the bully. Hopefully, that might make the fish reestablish territories.

 

Once you get to 50 posts on here you can post for glodanios in the buy/sell/trade/free forum (or you can ask me I have a school of 6-7 starfire reds I am trying to get gone lol). As far as aggression goes I would say they aren't as bad as skirt tetras, they are fairly nippy and quick so they stress some fish out.

 

Thanks for all the advice! It really stinks that I don't have any decent LFS that sells freshwater - only saltwater. I wouldn't say my glofish has been a deliberate murderer but it would chase, nip, and chase others away at feeding time. I bought the fish from pet/co/smart and I believe that the first group brought parasites or a mystery ailment into the tank which I was battling for a long time. A couple zebras recovered but then weeks later came down ill again I haven't been able to keep their numbers up. I hope if I start fresh and add several at once it will calm down the aggressor. I am new to this hobby (well, since I was teenager with goldfish long ago) but I always read how happy, unstressed fish will be able to fight off common sickness. The other danios got along and seemed happy except when chased by the bully. I plan to add even more plants for additional cover (there are several hiding places in the tank).
Mcasella How long have you had the starfires and have you had any trouble with them? I may have to contact you if I can't find any good stock locally
I will look closely at the walmart fish.. don't really want to buy from them so I'll check around the other chains again and see what is left there. Most every time I visit they all have dead fish in the tanks sadly.
Has anyone else had problems with a school of both glofish and normal zebra danios? How many danios should I aI'm to have (beyond the 6 minimum) and how many would it be safe to add at once (given that BB has probably died off with only the one fish in the tank)? Its a 20G and so far I've never had a problem with ammonia, etc. I gave the tank a major cleaning/gravel removal at one point due to battling the parasites so I hope it's safer now to restock.
thanks again in advance

 

Thanks for all the advice! It really stinks that I don't have any decent LFS that sells freshwater - only saltwater. I wouldn't say my glofish has been a deliberate murderer but it would chase, nip, and chase others away at feeding time. I bought the fish from pet/co/smart and I believe that the first group brought parasites or a mystery ailment into the tank which I was battling for a long time. A couple zebras recovered but then weeks later came down ill again I haven't been able to keep their numbers up. I hope if I start fresh and add several at once it will calm down the aggressor. I am new to this hobby (well, since I was teenager with goldfish long ago) but I always read how happy, unstressed fish will be able to fight off common sickness. The other danios got along and seemed happy except when chased by the bully. I plan to add even more plants for additional cover (there are several hiding places in the tank).
Mcasella How long have you had the starfires and have you had any trouble with them? I may have to contact you if I can't find any good stock locally
I will look closely at the walmart fish.. don't really want to buy from them so I'll check around the other chains again and see what is left there. Most every time I visit they all have dead fish in the tanks sadly.
Has anyone else had problems with a school of both glofish and normal zebra danios? How many danios should I aI'm to have (beyond the 6 minimum) and how many would it be safe to add at once (given that BB has probably died off with only the one fish in the tank)? Its a 20G and so far I've never had a problem with ammonia, etc. I gave the tank a major cleaning/gravel removal at one point due to battling the parasites so I hope it's safer now to restock.
thanks again in advance

Normal and glos are generally fine together, exhibiting normal schooling behavior and showing no issue with being together.
I have had them a while, the newest two are healthy as far as body goes but I am working on getting their color to the level my others are at (I have had five of them for 5 or 6 months, healthy, always act hungry, the newest two fit right in with no ailments), I have had the newest two for a month without issue. They have had no illnesses in the time I have had them and have been in the same tank after the first two weeks where I was shuffling them to try and keep them from getting eaten or nibbling on other fish (the first five, the other two went in with the group and have shown no signs of stress or illness).