My new zebras

Question
Ahhh! My parents got a neon tetra from one of their friends that didnt want it anymore. Thats right, one lonely neon tetra. But actually, it was swimming with one of the danios, maybe the shy one? Is it ok to keep it? I have already told my parents that they couldnt do so many things with the tank and I dont think they will let me tell them no again. My mom did pick up some aquarium salt today though and I added some of that to help the stress. What else can I do?
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Hey Nicole! That's right! My 5 new Zebra Danios. I know you recommended only 3 or 4 but my parents wanted 10 and definatly wouldnt settle for 3. So I went with 5. All are well now but when I first put them in after acclimating them, one of the fish just sort of hid under my fake plant/ right next to the air stone. What would have made him do this? The other four were all swimming around and he/she was just sort of hiding there. He/she is ok now and ate this morning, but I need to know so my other fish that I may be getting in 3-4 weeks wont do that. Also, how do I sex them so that I dont have to say he/she?
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Good evening Garrett, thank you for your question.

Fish are individuals, after all, just like you and me. Some fish are just a little "shy" so to speak. This zebra danio may have had a bit of a hard time acclimating for many reasons. He may have gotten stuck to the net, been pursued an especially long time, or maybe he just skipped his breakfast and/or dinner. Fish get tired too, and just want to take it easy at times. I'm glad to hear he bounced right back - that is the advantage of having purchased hardy fish!

The best way to acclimate a fish from the local fish store is to float the bag for 10 minutes in the aquarium. Then pour a little of your own water in. Do this a couple of times, allowing 5 minutes between each splash of new water. The second time around you should have doubled the amount of the original water in the shipping bag.

After the fish seem calm (usually within a couple of minutes) place a net over a bowl and place the bowl over the nearest sink so that it's all right if water spills over the edges. After the fish have been "poured" into the net, turn the net inside out with the fish in it into the aquarium. It helps to have left the cover open beforehand.

That's the way I acclimate my fish, there are actually lots of ways to do it. Moving fish from tank to tank in your own house is a different story - the temperature and water in your house is probably the same everywhere. I just transfer them directly from one tank to another using a net, in this instance. When adding fish from your LFS, it is recommended to acclimate by floating the bag, since the water will be a slightly different temperature and pH from your own, and it is also recommended not to add the shipping water since it is usually full of "unpleasants" such as strands of poop. Not to worry though, if you added it this time.

Here's more if you'd like to read up: http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/acclimate.html

As far as sexing zebra danios goes, the females are rounder around their bellies, for one thing. (Zebra danios breed easily, so you may find yourself with some pregnant ones!) Males are also more brightly colored, with more prominent yellow stripes. Females are more of a silvery color, but it's hard to tell with juveniles. Feed them their usual flakes along with some frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms, and their colors will really shine. They are very active fish, they "swim off" any extra calories!

Any ideas who will be the next inhabitants? Let me emphasize how very wise you are for taking things slowly, I wish more people did. Two weeks is ample time to make sure all is well in your tank, but three weeks is fine as well. Again, very wise! I see only live, healthy fish in your future...

Best to you,
Nicole

Answer
Hi Garrett,

That's ok. One neon tetra will be fine in there. What I would do is when you get ready to add more fish (in a week or so) make your next fish more neon tetras. They really like to be together in a group. Add 3 or 4 more and watch how they shoal up, they will be so happy with more of their kind.

Other than routine maintenance such as weekly water changes and rinsing of your filter media, along with gravel vacuuming every two weeks, I would not do anything special. You don't need to keep adding the salt either, it's just handy to have - when you add new fish or have a sick fish. Some fish like mollies like their water to be kept a little salty, but your fish don't need salt on a regular basis.

You are doing fine, Garrett, don't panic! I doubt your neon tetra is even very stressed. Actually, I am sure he is glad to have found such a good home. :)

See you later,
Nicole