Weird glow light tetras - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

KMyshrall · 07-14-2003, 01:07 AM

I got a few glow light tetras to help finish cycling my new tank. Once it was finished cycling I put them in the community tank.
They are the weirdest fish. When they were in their own tank they stayed near the bottom and had no personality at all. Now that I've moved them they continually are trying to flip themselves out of the tank (i um think one succeeded but i cant find her anywhere) and they hang near the very top of the tank.
My danios are brats and they do like to harass new animals in the tank but i dont think thats the problem.
These are definitely not my favorite fish!!

denimous · 07-14-2003, 01:58 AM

if your fish are consistently trying to jump out of the tank, and hang near the top as you have explained...it may be because of the water parameters.

my friend recently got a chinese algae eater who proved to be quite the escape artist, i talked to one of the store clerks at the lfs and he explained that fish may behave this way when the water parameters are not to their liking.

it sounds like their behavior is similar, esp. considering that it doesn't seem consistent with their temperment.

KMyshrall · 07-14-2003, 03:25 AM

really? That's weird...they're in my established tank and the other fish are doing great. No ammonia, no nitrite, low nitrate, temp is 78.....i'm not sure what else to do for them.
I even did a partial water change, vacuumed and moved the decorations around when i added them so the danios didn't feel too threatened.
Does anyone happen to know if there is anything i can do for them....oh by the way i found the other female....very dead on my living room floor and the male jumped out about 2 minutes after i found her but i put him back in. I've never had to have a cover for this tank because none of the fish have ever tried to get out before and i have a light that hangs over....i may have to go and get one.

valdok · 07-14-2003, 11:59 AM

a tank over is always a good thing, not only does it keep what's in in, but it keeps what is out out. water loss from evaporation is a pain in the butt to keep refilling if you have no tank cover. i had a cat once that liked to paw at the insides of the tank, and the only way i got her to stop was to cover the tank securely. depending on the size of your tank, a cover shouldn't be real expensive. i'd say the tank cover is definitely the easiest route to go.

FroggyFox · 07-14-2003, 12:46 PM

I'm surprised you've never had your Danios try to jump out! They're very jumpy. I had all of mine out and in a juice pitcher while doing a 100% water change...put them all back into the tank...started counting...and I only counted 4. Went back into the kitchen and there he was flipping on the floor! Good thing they're hardy...I scooped him up and put him in the tank and he was none worse for the wear

fishface · 07-14-2003, 02:35 PM

i geting some glowlight tetras in a bit is that the way they usually behave?

tetra girl · 07-15-2003, 01:13 AM

what is your pH? glowlights like their pH to be about 6.5 (i wouldnt go any higher then that). I have kept glowlights for a while now and they have never bahaved like that before - are you sure that the other fish are not harressing them? also how many of them do you have as your signature says that you only have one which is also a definate no no. You have to keep them in a school of at least 5 so they feel more comfortable. On the other hand you could go for golden glowlights since they are albinos their eyesight is really bad so i doubt they will be jumping anywhere!

KMyshrall · 07-15-2003, 02:58 PM

My pH is 7.2 in that tank.
Well i did have 5 , two died and then two days ago two of them catapulted themselves out of the tank while i was out...so there is just one left. I don't particularly want any more....will she school with any other fish?

fishface · 07-15-2003, 04:07 PM

6.5! mines 7.1 will that be ok for them? and im going to get 4 is that alright?

Luca · 07-16-2003, 08:30 PM

yes yes yes that is fine fishface, 6.5 is a "preferred" ph for them and mine tolerate some fluctuation of ph but only seem to breed when it's at 6.5. Best not to play with the ph till ya know you can keep it stable (i.e one teapsoon of proper ph 6.5 per bucket type kinda thing, u need to do tests)

anyway, i have 4 glowlights and i think they're great, the females fill up with eggs and look like whales when they're full. they pretty much school with themselves but will play with albino glowlights and there's always interaction amongst tetras.

i think the question you should be asking KMYshrall, is what WERE your parameters in the cycling tank? you may have dramatically changed it when you added them to the community.

What's your dh and kh like?

07-14-2003, 01:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
KMyshrall Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 25	Weird glow light tetras I got a few glow light tetras to help finish cycling my new tank. Once it was finished cycling I put them in the community tank. They are the weirdest fish. When they were in their own tank they stayed near the bottom and had no personality at all. Now that I've moved them they continually are trying to flip themselves out of the tank (i um think one succeeded but i cant find her anywhere) and they hang near the very top of the tank. My danios are brats and they do like to harass new animals in the tank but i dont think thats the problem. These are definitely not my favorite fish!! __________________ <B>10 Gallon</B>: 4 Zebra Danios (Bippity, Boppity, Boo, and Pig); 1 Tiger tetra (Calypso); 1 Algae eating Shark (Jaws); 1 Glow Light Tetras (Lucy) 1 Unidentified loach <BR> <B>10 Gallon #2</B>: 2 Dwarf Puffer Fish (Pouffy and Wimpy); 1 African Dwarf Frog (kaorc (Cork)); 2 unidentified loaches; Bunch of snails and ghost shrimp<BR> <B>2 Gallon</B>: 2 Fiddler Crabs (Sebastian and Belle)

07-14-2003, 01:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
denimous Little Fish Join Date: May 2003 Location: sunny california Posts: 202	if your fish are consistently trying to jump out of the tank, and hang near the top as you have explained...it may be because of the water parameters. my friend recently got a chinese algae eater who proved to be quite the escape artist, i talked to one of the store clerks at the lfs and he explained that fish may behave this way when the water parameters are not to their liking. it sounds like their behavior is similar, esp. considering that it doesn't seem consistent with their temperment. __________________ upcoming tanks...10 gal TBD 1 betta named peanut 1 hamster named winky

07-14-2003, 03:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
KMyshrall Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 25	really? That's weird...they're in my established tank and the other fish are doing great. No ammonia, no nitrite, low nitrate, temp is 78.....i'm not sure what else to do for them. I even did a partial water change, vacuumed and moved the decorations around when i added them so the danios didn't feel too threatened. Does anyone happen to know if there is anything i can do for them....oh by the way i found the other female....very dead on my living room floor and the male jumped out about 2 minutes after i found her but i put him back in. I've never had to have a cover for this tank because none of the fish have ever tried to get out before and i have a light that hangs over....i may have to go and get one. __________________ <B>10 Gallon</B>: 4 Zebra Danios (Bippity, Boppity, Boo, and Pig); 1 Tiger tetra (Calypso); 1 Algae eating Shark (Jaws); 1 Glow Light Tetras (Lucy) 1 Unidentified loach <BR> <B>10 Gallon #2</B>: 2 Dwarf Puffer Fish (Pouffy and Wimpy); 1 African Dwarf Frog (kaorc (Cork)); 2 unidentified loaches; Bunch of snails and ghost shrimp<BR> <B>2 Gallon</B>: 2 Fiddler Crabs (Sebastian and Belle)

07-14-2003, 12:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
FroggyFox Forum Manager Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,475	I'm surprised you've never had your Danios try to jump out! They're very jumpy. I had all of mine out and in a juice pitcher while doing a 100% water change...put them all back into the tank...started counting...and I only counted 4. Went back into the kitchen and there he was flipping on the floor! Good thing they're hardy...I scooped him up and put him in the tank and he was none worse for the wear __________________ 29, 46 & 55FW 29 SW + dog + horse + catYou can view info & photos of my critters here...

07-14-2003, 02:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
fishface Large Fish Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: England - Sheffield Posts: 606	i geting some glowlight tetras in a bit is that the way they usually behave? __________________ 10 gallon : - 1 male betta, harliquinx6 25 gallon : - lots

07-14-2003, 11:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
valdok Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 229	a tank over is always a good thing, not only does it keep what's in in, but it keeps what is out out. water loss from evaporation is a pain in the butt to keep refilling if you have no tank cover. i had a cat once that liked to paw at the insides of the tank, and the only way i got her to stop was to cover the tank securely. depending on the size of your tank, a cover shouldn't be real expensive. i'd say the tank cover is definitely the easiest route to go.

07-15-2003, 01:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
tetra girl Medium Fish Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 367	what is your pH? glowlights like their pH to be about 6.5 (i wouldnt go any higher then that). I have kept glowlights for a while now and they have never bahaved like that before - are you sure that the other fish are not harressing them? also how many of them do you have as your signature says that you only have one which is also a definate no no. You have to keep them in a school of at least 5 so they feel more comfortable. On the other hand you could go for golden glowlights since they are albinos their eyesight is really bad so i doubt they will be jumping anywhere!

07-15-2003, 02:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
KMyshrall Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 25	My pH is 7.2 in that tank. Well i did have 5 , two died and then two days ago two of them catapulted themselves out of the tank while i was out...so there is just one left. I don't particularly want any more....will she school with any other fish? __________________ <B>10 Gallon</B>: 4 Zebra Danios (Bippity, Boppity, Boo, and Pig); 1 Tiger tetra (Calypso); 1 Algae eating Shark (Jaws); 1 Glow Light Tetras (Lucy) 1 Unidentified loach <BR> <B>10 Gallon #2</B>: 2 Dwarf Puffer Fish (Pouffy and Wimpy); 1 African Dwarf Frog (kaorc (Cork)); 2 unidentified loaches; Bunch of snails and ghost shrimp<BR> <B>2 Gallon</B>: 2 Fiddler Crabs (Sebastian and Belle)

07-15-2003, 04:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
fishface Large Fish Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: England - Sheffield Posts: 606	6.5! mines 7.1 will that be ok for them? and im going to get 4 is that alright? __________________ 10 gallon : - 1 male betta, harliquinx6 25 gallon : - lots

07-16-2003, 08:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Luca Medium Fish Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Middle Earth (New Zealand) Posts: 542	yes yes yes that is fine fishface, 6.5 is a "preferred" ph for them and mine tolerate some fluctuation of ph but only seem to breed when it's at 6.5. Best not to play with the ph till ya know you can keep it stable (i.e one teapsoon of proper ph 6.5 per bucket type kinda thing, u need to do tests) anyway, i have 4 glowlights and i think they're great, the females fill up with eggs and look like whales when they're full. they pretty much school with themselves but will play with albino glowlights and there's always interaction amongst tetras. i think the question you should be asking KMYshrall, is what WERE your parameters in the cycling tank? you may have dramatically changed it when you added them to the community. What's your dh and kh like? __________________ I did not have sexual relations with that woman