Pls pls assist I have panicked swordtails.

hello! Got 8 new koi swordtails a week ago Sat (so almost ten days). They went in qt and bc I thought they ate my green neons, I moved them to the main tank which is home. It’s 11-12 red eye tetras, two small angels, 8 koi swordtails, and 6 emerald Cories. The tank is 48” long, 24” deep and 13” wide. Anyway since the move (which was this past Friday evening, one or two of the koi panic when I come into the room. Glass surf like crazy and just are all over the tank. If I didn’t have a lid they would jump out for sure. My red eyes are always cautious and when I step in front of the tank they all hide. But the koi (1 or two) PANIC’ it’s like they have whirling disease. What can I do? Just go into the room repeatedly and non stop so they are used to me? I feel bad going in bc of their panic. They were ok in the qt tank (mostly). The one who really panics has no bitten fins so she’s not racing from the other fish. It’s definitely me. I try to do slow movements but even standing up has them petrified. What to do? I feel awful for them!

 

Your body must be blocking a light source when you walk in. Fish are sensitive to the sudden change in light and they panic. Think, large fish swims above and blocks the sun suddenly!. They are trying to hide. If they have no good hiding spots, then they panic more.

So give them better hiding places so they feel secure. And see if you can figure out how the light changes when you come in.

 

keep the tank and room lights out for a few days.

 

Hello,

I have x6 Koi Swordtails (Profile pic, think they are Koi anyhow) in a tank with Angels and Cory Catfish, and have no issues with fish on fish troubles.

The swordtails normally get "more" active when I enter the room and peer into the tank close up as they with the Angelfish associate that with feeding time lol.

Just a thought could it be they are expecting food from a habit of the place you purchased them?

Just an idea but the above two posts seem more likely.

 

Thank you all! I tried it and they seem mildly calmer. I’m about to put curtains in the room todqy. Thank you all! Genius! The room is so bright right now that anywhere I stand is a light source! Pardon the room in progress. I have a rug coming this week curtains up today and then getting a desk! And yes I’m panicked about screwing in a curtain rod and will just drape towels over the tank?

 

So you set up your tank and then finished the room. I like your style. Priorities.

 

Thank you all! I tried it and they seem mildly calmer. I’m about to put curtains in the room todqy. Thank you all! Genius! The room is so bright right now that anywhere I stand is a light source! Pardon the room in progress. I have a rug coming this week curtains up today and then getting a desk! And yes I’m panicked about screwing in a curtain rod and will just drape towels over the tank? View attachment 874201

Ah I think I read a post of yours a while back when you were setting up this room... or have I got you mistaken lol?

 

Edit: I assumed it was bc I was close to the tank but I guess it was shadows! You all are brilliant! I’m looking forward to the curtains which aren’t black out but are light filtering. Meaning I can actually step in front of the tank and look! I guess I could crawl? Hahahah and then peer in. I think curtains will help!!!!!!

So you set up your tank and then finished the room. I like your style. Priorities.

Oh def. First things first! Design AROUND the tank. That’s my focal point!!

 

Fish are sensitive to the sudden change in light and they panic.

So true...!

 

I guess I could crawl?

yeah I’m gonna need a video of this

 

yeah I’m gonna need a video of this

Hahahahah I just did it. And am about to hang curtains directly over the tank. I’m honestly panicked. It’s acrylic and if I sneeze it’ll scratch, much less putting a towel on top! I am using a towel but maybe fleece is better?
Omg the poor fish I covered half the tank and used an electric drill and it was so loud. So basically I moved them from the store to my house, then from the qt to the main, and then used a huge drill lights on and off and music loud (not my choice, my husband was out and my friend helped me so I couldn’t say much bc she helped so much).

 

I understand your panic but honestly at night when the lights are off and the rooms silent they’ll rest and relax. Although we want to do things perfectly for then sometimes life dictates otherwise , it’s temporary. They’ll be fine I’m sure.

Still waiting on the commando crawl video to spy on the fish

 

I understand your panic but honestly at night when the lights are off and the rooms silent they’ll rest and relax. Although we want to do things perfectly for then sometimes life dictates otherwise , it’s temporary. They’ll be fine I’m sure.

Still waiting on the commando crawl video to spy on the fish

I need a ring camera but the inside type bc I too want to see me trying to army crawl to observe some swordtails hahahahaha!!
Update: they still see my shadow through the curtains Lolol. I do not want blackout curtains though (which my husband recommends) bc then the room is BRIGHT or pitch black. What do you all think?

 

I noticed in the last picture that the aquarium light is off and the sun is coming through the window. This is scary for fish now when you enter since you make a big change in their light.


If instead the aquarium light is on when the sun is out, then the fish wont see much change from you blocking window light with your body.

Also add some foreground plants so the fish can hide. They are very exposed in this tank.

 

I noticed in the last picture that the aquarium light is off and the sun is coming through the window. This is scary for fish now when you enter since you make a big change in their light.


If instead the aquarium light is on when the sun is out, then the fish wont see much change from you blocking window light with your body.

Also add some foreground plants so the fish can hide. They are very exposed in this tank.

Thank you! Makes sense! And I have a bunch of plants in QT ready to move but I def need more foreground. I had somebody on here who was going to make me a list of suggested and her poor pup got sick so we have postponed! But thank you for reminding me bc I just went down a rabbit hole about buying driftwood!! And there are things I ACTUALLY need!

 

I noticed in the last picture that the aquarium light is off and the sun is coming through the window. This is scary for fish now when you enter since you make a big change in their light.


If instead the aquarium light is on when the sun is out, then the fish wont see much change from you blocking window light with your body.

Also add some foreground plants so the fish can hide. They are very exposed in this tank.

I just want to say (and this is a reply to the last message but it’s to all who commented) you guys are geniuses. I’m on a fb group and it’s for beginners (but is really all levels) and they are SO MEAN and most importantly not as knowledgeable (not right to be rude but if you’re also telling people the wrong stuff that’s worse imho) and you all legit know EVERYTHING. Every single thing. Ie you were correct that tank light on and approach from side works and I think even with the front approach I would have been fine. I worry I’ll need fake plants for the front bc I don’t know what I can get that will grow fast. Maybe I’ll move the back fake plant up to the front just for now! Anyway thank you all today and forever!!

 

I’ve said it before , I’ll say it again !!

social media can be TOXIC ! Anyone could be replying from an unwatched 6 yo to someone wanting you to pour bleach in your tank coz it’ll clean it … double check everything and do your own research every single time. People get a kick out of weird things.

anyways , Yey ! Glad you found the answers you needed to help your wet pets

 

I planted wayyyy more plants but they’re still super short! I have nowhere to even place the huge fake plant on the left. Should I hang it from above like the picture I’m showing? So the fish have somewhere to hide? Or am I then blocking the light to the plants? I think I will be so let me know pls if they Really need the plant hanging! One is with one is without the fake plant.

P

 

Anybody? I have a funny story (I think it’s funny). So I happened to be mosying past my office (the large tank room) and what do I see? I see fish everywhere. Cories swimming across the boundless depths of a 48” tank. Swords lazily checking out the new plants. Happiness abounds. I walk in. They disappear. Not as bad now that I’ve used your tricks. But here’s my question: I’m moving a desk in here very soon. Once I’m in the room more often will the fish get less skittish? Should I sit in there for a long time each day? Bc I will even without the desk. I haven’t bc of guilt that they panic.

 

Yes they’ll get used to you. At the minute they are used to an empty room. Once they are used to you they’ll come and greet you ( totally not begging for food )

 

Yes they’ll get used to you. At the minute they are used to an empty room. Once they are used to you they’ll come and greet you ( totally not begging for food )

hahahahs I thought I replied to this but now I’m happy I didn’t bc correct me if I’m wrong but I believe almost all of the swords are preggo. The sales guy told me they could be and I asked for no males but I have at least one (the only one not preggo). Do you know how long until my angels have some new food—I mean until the babies come?

 

Why am I not surprised in the slightest

ummm the most telltale sign I’ve found is when the belly squares off it’s gonna be very soon.. which at least one looks to be squared off so Uber eats could be tonight….

 

Healthy happy swordtails are always pregnant! Some of the babies will survive if they have places to hide low near the substrate.

I love Annubias plants with sword tails. Annubias gives them a little forest to hide in near the surface.

 

Healthy happy swordtails are always pregnant! Some of the babies will survive if they have places to hide low near the substrate.

I love Annubias plants with sword tails. Annubias gives them a little forest to hide in near the surface.

Frank the Fish guy and Blacksheep1 this is super weird. I go down this morning, first thing, to look at the tank. I think there might be two still pregnant (not heavily pregnant though), but the super preggo ones aren’t any longer. Yet my Angel isn’t fat//full (the gold one; my fave fish is a black Angel and in this tank I see her about once a week bc of the background) and I see not a single fry. Could they have been sucked up through this filter? Well yes I imagine so. I checked the back and don’t see any (and am hoping to not take it all apart). I forgot to put the sponge on the end last clean. I just don’t see how all of them could be sucked up or eaten in twelve hours without the Angel looking full. I had molly babies with cories before and the cories didn’t eat them but maybe they did now?. Am I super naive? In other words, am I not looking hard enough or are they all eaten that fast? And must I take this apart? It has this overflow so many would have still gotten routed back through.

 

If you could see them, then the other fish could too! So the ones that survive hidden in the plants, you won't see until they are big enough to venture out. Annubias is great for hiding babies under its leaves.

 

If you could see them, then the other fish could too! So the ones that survive hidden in the plants, you won't see until they are big enough to venture out. Annubias is great for hiding babies under its leaves.

I was explaining that to my husband earlier as we searched!!

 

Once you get your eye in you will be able to spot a fry from a room away ! I mean I can spot a kfc or a mc’ds from a town away at this point…

ok, ok . Wrong fry but the point is valid. Live bearers have larger fry than egg layers , you may not spot any for a while then one day you’ll be feeding and see 3 emerge pretty big.

Another benefit of planted tanks

 

Once you get your eye in you will be able to spot a fry from a room away ! I mean I can spot a kfc or a mc’ds from a town away at this point…

ok, ok . Wrong fry but the point is valid. Live bearers have larger fry than egg layers , you may not spot any for a while then one day you’ll be feeding and see 3 emerge pretty big.

Another benefit of planted tanks

Hahahahsh I just loled. Fries are so good. Now I want some gahahaha. I had some molly babies lonnngggg ago and they were pretty darn cute I will say. All big eyes like my green neons—like all you can see if the huge eyes (in my memory of any fry). However I am no expert and clearly can’t spot them like you can! What’s weird is I swear they look pregnant again. I think it’s in my head now though and I expect fry daily Lolol.
IF you have a moment and could check out this other post I made that would be great but if not of course no worries! You’ve helped me so beyond measure so I’m sorry to even ask you to look!!

Pls assist: new fish dying | Freshwater Aquarium Discussion Forum

 

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Replied to that thread

THANK YOU! I replied with a super long and quite boring bash on my mistakes so if it’s too boring you can jump to the starred section at the end where I ask what to do! The Mollies are on deaths door. Thank you thank you thank you! McDonald’s gift cards to you!!