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Tank is 96 litre and 6 months old. Did planted, fishless cycling for 8 weeks then added 6 danios, 3 weeeks later 5 ottos then a further 3 weeks added 2 rams.

All doing great, ph 8 (as tap water and lfs), 20% water change every week, no spikes on readings proving fluval filter working well, usually 0 on all readings (nitrite, nitrate and ammonia) or only just above on nitrate). Rams actually spawned last weekend, though they ate all the eggs. No losses until yesterday!

Put in courgette piece for ottos, danio darted off and hid in plastic plant. He appeared to get stuck and damaged some scales - was dead within 3 hours. Other all seemed fine - eating and swimming well. Fed fish this am, another danio darted into plant - appears stuck! These plants have been in the tank for at least 2 months. Why are they doing this? How can I ensure this danio survives?

Courgette is ounced zu-kee-nee here in the US.

Danios as a dither fish as rapid, open water swimmers. It is possible that the addition of the summer squach bit startled the fish and they literally ran into a "wall". The plastic plants look like real plants but are not as fish friendly as real plants. Regrettably, the fish see the shape and think, "Must hide!", not "Watch out! These things are stiff and sharp!"

Your previous fish may have died of stress or from its wounds or from an infection that set in after the incident. Isolate the injured fish in a one gallon of water that is 50% water from your aquarium and 50% water from your tap at the same temperature. Before adding the fish, add a teaspoon of aquarium salt.

Let the fish marinate for two hours, then pour the container and the fish back into your aquarium. The container contents will not pollute the contents of your tank and the procedure will minimize handling/netting of the fish.

Prevention is simple in the future... get less dangerous plants!



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Thanks Bob

Offending plant already in trash! Danio does have damaged scales but otherwise seems ok (unlike last danio). Off right now to lfs to get salts. Thankx for your quick reply.

I agree with Bob 110% re plactic plants many of the plactic plants are extremly tough and have no flexability at all. As you have found out re you loss. Those heavy plastic plants have there place but certainly not in a fish tank. If you have to use artifical plants there are some excellent silk type which are soft, flexable, and certainly a lot safer to use.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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