Zebra Danio Fin Nipping

Hey guys, just added 6 longfin zebra danio as my first fish to a 29 gallon a week ago. Planning to add some sterbai corys today/tomorrow. However noticing the danios are a lot of fun and some back fins are a little nipped. Is that part of there nature? Should I get more 2-3 more to help out since I know they like large schools. Trying not to add too many more since I have plans for a few others that will bring my tank load up.

Also trying to tell male and female is tough but can pretty much guess 1 female by its bigger belly.

Thanks!

 

Getting more will help diffuse aggression within the group and may also stop the fin nipping.

Mind if I ask your parameters and how the tank is setup (heavy, moderate, lightly decorated/planted?) sometimes fish will act more aggressive if they feel stressed by something. Could be parameters or set up. It’s good to have a lot of cover so the fish can hide out when they need to. Also is the tank cycled?

 

It is a medium planted tank with real plants, rocks, and driftwood. Fully cycled. Noticed this morning they are going at it with the potential females. Thinking they might be giving birth soon.

 

It is a medium planted tank with real plants, rocks, and driftwood. Fully cycled. Noticed this morning they are going at it with the potential females. Thinking they might be giving birth soon.

If this is the case, determining your m:f ratio would be the best thing. Females tend to be larger and rounder, especially when egg barren, whereas males are smaller, slender, and more torpedo-shaped. Getting more females will help diffuse aggression so that it is not the same few females being chased, but they’re going to chase each other anyway

 

Thank you!
Being new it is tougher to figure out the difference between m:f when they are younger.

 

I know that you want to add different species, but your priority is to maintain the fish that you already have. I suggest that you add at least 3 more females. Yes this is typical behavior for danios. I don't have a clue why they would develop a strain of long-finned fish that are such known fin nippers.
Sterbei tetra are just as fin nippy as danios. And I personally could not tolerate the school that I had. Luckily I found them a good home where they were added to a tank that had a group of the same species. You might want to go with a more peaceful species because you don't have room for another large school.

 

I hear ya! Thank you!