Fresh water aquarium issues.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 8:42 am

I've had cory dora cats before with my gravel. The last 2 I had got to about 4" long. The gravel I have isn't really considered smooth nor does it look that rough. Oh now back to my question, I have a zebra danio and an orange colored glo fish which I have been told is a danio that has been genetically altered (to glo). Last night I noticed them going after eachother but I wasn't sure if they were fighting or possibly trying to mate? They wouldn't run/back away from eachother. So I guess my question is could they even mate with eachother and would there be eggs or live birth?

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 9:43 am

@Crabber it is recommended that you stay around 80% stocked, but I cant really say not to go above. One of my tanks is somewhere around 90%. Its just that the higher stocked you are, the more careful you need to be about always doing your water changes and keeping an eye on your parameters. Im not sure what percentage a group of tetras would put you at. The one thing I can say for sure is definitely don't go over 100% stocked.@jenok since theyre both danios, I would imagine they could breed. Im not sure if that behavior is a sign of them trying though. I don't really have an experience with danios. That would be a quick question to ask on myaquariumclub though You don't have to sign up or anything, you can just post a question as a guest.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:02 am

@Jenok, I've had zebra danios in the past and they never exhibited any kind of aggression towards each other so I'm not sure that what your seeing is a mating habit...There's a trend going around currently called painting where fish like Tinfoil barbs or other white or pale fish are injected with dyes/paints or irradiated pigments to make them colorful or glow in the dark and this process is painful for the fish as the dye or pigment is injected into the fish through several injection sites.It's not genetic modification but rather manual manipulation responsible for the coloration of these fish.Some scientists have done gene combination on danio eggs whereby the genes of fluorescing jelly fish and corals are inserted into the egg to give the fish a certain fluorescent coloration.This is still manual manipulation of the fish as the actual gene structure of the fish isn't being altered in and of itself(through breeding) its actually being spliced together with the genes of another similar organism.This process stresses the fish and shortens it's life span a great deal.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Wed Nov 06, 2013 11:14 am

I believe glofish are actually made that way with a specific gene (which also shortens their life span and makes them very sensitive), but yes there is a lot of dye being injected into fish going around too. It's usually seen with tetras. Particularly the white skirts or the glass tetras.There is also another process of dyeing fish that they use on Blood Parrots. These fish are already breed with deformities and have troubles swimming. They dip the fish in acid that eats away their slime coat (which fish need to protect themselves!) and burns their scales. Then they dip them in a certain dye to get the color and then another solution to act as a replacement slime coat. Of course many fish don't survive the process and if they do, their lives are shortened. They have also been cutting the tails off of Blood Parrots to make them look heart shaped so more people will buy them! Google "love blood parrots" and you should see some with their tails cut off and also others that have been coated in dye or had it injected into them.Its really horrible what they do to fish just to get people to buy them and it needs to stop. Just because a fish isn't a cuddly pet that can give affection, doesn't mean they don't deserve humane treatment.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:39 am

I'm sorry I can't explain the behavior better. It was really weird I've never seen it before and I've seen my fish acting aggressive on occasion and usually after a run in or two they separate and leave each other alone or one will shy/run away with the other following a short time to get the message across. It didn't resemble that behavior. They have left each other alone now. But I think if I get time in the next day or 2 I'll post that question on the fish forum.I agree, didn't know about most of that stuff though. I'm sure I heard it was genetically altered not dyed because it was the owner of my mom/pop store that told me when I bought them and I remember her saying about other fish that they were dyed so the color doesn't always stay (this was a separate occasion though). I always think that its so stupid to see the mollies with hearts or words like love marked on them.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:51 am

@Kirrie, I just looked up pics of the love blood parrot fish and from what I saw the fish doesn't look normal at all.. I don't agree with modifying fish whether through painting, dipping or genetically altering as it just does so much damage to the fish its not worth it to me.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:02 am

The poor things cant even close their mouths Its very disturbing what they do to fish just for some extra money. I completely agree that none of the modifications are worth it. I have some long fin skirt tetras. I wasn't aware that it was a trait breed into them before I got them, but now I know and Ive noticed some problems with them.First off, after quite a few months in my tank, one randomly died off with no signs of illness. None of the other fish were sick or ever got sick. It just stopped swimming and died. A few of the others are pretty timid and hide behind the driftwood. Their lives have been shortened just for the purpose of making some money. It upsets me knowing they wont live a full life and knowing I cant do anything but give them a good home until they die.A member on MAC is working on a letter to send to Petco and then to PetSmart about their horrible treatment of fish. Specifically keeping bettas in tiny plastic bowls without changing their water and then selling similar small containers for them to live in. Basically, encouraging inhumane treatment just so the fish will die and the people will come back for more. That really bothers me because my betta, Reagan (profile picture) sat in one of those cups for a month or more before I was able to put him in my tank. I saw him once and he was still there a month later so I knew I had to get him out of there. If it wouldn't have been me, someone else could have him in one of those tiny vases with a floating plant, claiming that bettas eat the plant roots and the plant cleans the water. Which is a big lie.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:17 am

Weird I guess we was all posting about the same time. I started my post and got interrupted so I don't know how it still got placed before yours. The glo fish is probably the only altered fish I have knowingly gotten but didn't realize all the other stuff I won't get any more.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:13 am

Apparently neon tetras are not hardy fish according to several websites but Wikipedia and Howcast both have them listed as hardy beginner fish and I've had them in the past and they were definitely hardy.lolSo far the Neons and the Rasboras are doing great and it's been nearly a week so fingers crossed that they continue to do well.I may be upgrading to a larger aquarium around the first of the year probably a thirty gallon so that I can have more live plants and more fish.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:30 am

Its not that they arent hardy, theyre just a lot more sensitive to water parameters and sudden changes than most fish. Im hoping I can upgrade my 29 to a 55 within the next year, or at least just get a 55 and stock it

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 6:56 am

@Kirrie, yeah thats what I've read is that they tend to be more sensitive to rapid changes in water chemistry and poor water quality so you have to do more in monitoring the water and keeping it changed out on a regular basis.I've also read that if you have enough live plants you can almost completely do away with any filtration you have though getting to that point takes years of patience and hard work.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:59 am

All of my tanks are heavily planted, but I would never get rid of my filtration. For one, it clears out the larger particles. Plants may eat up the nitrates in the tank, but there are a lot of other things that need to be filtered out. Whatever it doesn't catch makes food for the plants. It also can add oxygen to the water at the output of the filter.The biggest reason why I would never get rid of filtration is that the components inside the filter provide space for beneficial bacteria to grow. You can also add other things in the filter to change your water chemistry.At the very least, I would have a sponge filter in the tank. My betta Reagan has one now and he loves it. He plays in the bubbles and the filter isn't too strong for him.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:22 am

@Kirrie, from what I've read and been told the plants for filtration method only works on tanks in excess of ninety gallons and you have test the water daily and you must be devout with regular and frequent water change outs and be very familiar with using DIY Co2 infusers which can quickly kill off any fish in the water if the Co2 levels spike...I for one don't have the time, money or patience for something like that but for those who do more power to ya.lol I agree I would never go completely filter-less as I feel the filter plays a critical role in keeping any size aquarium stable and clean and also lowers the amount of work necessary to keep healthy vibrant fish and plants.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:41 am

That's very interesting! I've never heard that before and definitely will not be attempting it any time soon! Im too busy for that much work. Although I do enjoy taking care of my tanks. Doing water changes and feeding the fish are relaxing to me. The only thing I dont like is planting because the roots like to float rather than stay under the substrate. It takes me a while to get them all under and I get really frustrated before its done.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:44 am

@Kirrie, yup tell me about it doing live plants is fun if you can get them anchored into the sub on the first couple of tries but it usually takes me three or more before I get them to stay.lol