Glass Surfing - Do I Have A Problem?

12 gallon tank with 9 harlequin rasbora and they spend a lot of time glass surfing at one end of the tank - not all the time, sometimes they school/shoal, but a fair bit of glass surfing. Have been in there 3 weeks or so now and no change.

They are eating well.

Water is fine (Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5-10).

I did have two sparkling gourami who spawned so I think the water conditions must be ok (I had to give them back to the LFS as they became too aggressive, and then the rasbora ate the fry - the whole situation was a total and very unexpected disaster).

Nothing else in the tank now except a lone red cherry shrimp.

The shrimp has just tonight started swimming around frantically so I’m not sure what’s wrong - but the fish have been glass surfing much longer, so I’m not sure if there is a connection.

Any ideas? Fairly new tank which only cycled about 3 weeks ago.

I would like to add something else now my Gourami are gone but want to make sure everything is ok in the tank first and can’t shake the feeling that something is not quite right.

 

It sounds like there is a definite problem. You should fill out the sick fish template to get as much relevant information to us as possible. It's much easier to give advice without having to ask a million questions. The template can be found when you click on the beginners forum. I hope we can help you figure this out quickly.

Add; I actually had a hard time finding it again so type into the search bar ' Fish emergency template '

 

9 Harlequin sounds like way too many in a 12 gallon they get around 2" and are probably feeling cramped. If possible I would upgrade to a 20 long to give them much more room to swim/school/shoal together.

 

What is the water volume of the tank? 12 gallon/45 liter
How long has the tank been running? 2 months (fish in for 3 weeks)
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What is the water temperature? Heater set to 26C, thermometer reads 24C (approx 78F/75C)
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) 9 harlequin Rasbora (some juvenile), 1 RCS, some unexpected snails

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Weekly
How much of the water do you change? 20%
What do you use to treat your water? Prime
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? both

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? Yes
What do you use to test the water? API Master
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: Under 10
pH: 6.6

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? 2 x Day
How much do you feed your fish? As much as they can eat in a minute or so
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Sera & Tropical brand granules
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? Frozen brine shrimp

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? 3 weeks
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? Since beginning
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Glass surfing at one end of the tank a lot of the time, particularly when lights are on
Have you started any treatment for the illness? No
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? No

Explain your emergency situation in detail. (Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)

Fish are glass surfing but eating well and appear otherwise physically ok.

9 Harlequin sounds like way too many in a 12 gallon they get around 2" and are probably feeling cramped. If possible I would upgrade to a 20 long to give them much more room to swim/school/shoal together.

Thanks, that sounds like a possibility. I’m not overly attached to them, perhaps I need to just return them to the LFS, upgrading my tank is not really an option at the moment.

 

What is the water volume of the tank? 12 gallon/45 liter
How long has the tank been running? 2 months (fish in for 3 weeks)
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What is the water temperature? Heater set to 26C, thermometer reads 24C (approx 78F/75C)
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.) 9 harlequin Rasbora (some juvenile), 1 RCS, some unexpected snails

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Weekly
How much of the water do you change? 20%
What do you use to treat your water? Prime
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? both

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? Yes
What do you use to test the water? API Master
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: Under 10
pH: 6.6

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? 2 x Day
How much do you feed your fish? As much as they can eat in a minute or so
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Sera & Tropical brand granules
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? Frozen brine shrimp

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? 3 weeks
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? Since beginning
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Glass surfing at one end of the tank a lot of the time, particularly when lights are on
Have you started any treatment for the illness? No
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? No

Explain your emergency situation in detail. (Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)

Fish are glass surfing but eating well and appear otherwise physically ok.




Thanks, that sounds like a possibility. I’m not overly attached to them, perhaps I need to just return them to the LFS, upgrading my tank is not really an option at the moment.

That’s sounds like a responsible decision to bring them back. If I were you I would look into a school of nano fish like ember tetras or chilI or lamb chop Rasboras. Avoid neon tetras cause they will also need a longer tank for schooling. Good luck!

 

It is the responsible decision, and I hope you do choose more suitable fish because you really have put a lot of time and effort in-just the kind of fishkeeper who will house happy fish for years

 

Might want to give cherry shrimp a try. I don’t recommend fish and shrimp in the same tank but a 12 g would be perfect for a RCS colony.

 

I think you have room for your 9 rasbora and possisbly a betta fish, but nothing else.

Your fish may be stressed at the moment, the tank may not be completly cycled, please make sure it is, and then add prime.