I don't know how much any of this helps. The water pentameters are fine by the way. Schooling fish need to be in groups of six or more, and that includes obvious species such as neon tetras and not-so-obvious ones such as corydoras catfish. The lamp is on. Your water perimeters are good, your tank is the appropriate size and not overstocked, your schooling fish seem happy and are kept in the appropriate numbers and there are no aggressive fish in the tank. what more can i do. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on August 05, 2020: @Fishie lover - That's a tad high. Asked by Wiki User. Are they easy to breed? By entering this site you declare Update Is it normal or is it stressed out? I moved the balashark to my 20gal tank and him alone. Sometimes they go a little crazy with water changes too. My own opinion is that 4-6 in a group is still to small if I had the room I would have twice that in all tanks . It may be that the fish feels stress being in such a small school. They do not appear in distress. There is virtually nothing about keeping a surface form Mexican tetra online that I have seen. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on July 18, 2020: @Pat - Are they moving to a different tank eventually, I assume? Day or night, lights on or off - it doesn't really seem to matter. you read and agreed to the. unknownn . Eric Dockett (author) from USA on July 24, 2020: @Mia - Sometimes fish just do strange things. When we put her back in, however, the platy keep chasing her around. To make matters worse, small tanks are harder to keep clean, and it is harder to maintain healthy water quality and proper temperatures. There is also no fish in the tank bothering the cory and there is another cory of the same kind living in a rock but the one that is swimming up and down has not joined him. Eric is an aquarium enthusiast with over two decades of experience caring for a wide array of tropical fish. I spend some time every day staring at them (pretty fish teehee) and haven't noticed any physical changes so far (part form stripes disappearing). I always recommend a minimum of six, but more is better if you have a large enough tank. Poor water conditions normally result in a buildup of ammonia as well as other harmful chemicals that are going to cause your betta harm. Once again, doing the research necessary beforehand can help you understand how your fish might interact, and if they are a good match. If you don’t have the right water conditions for your betta then he’s going to become stressed. I have one cory in my 5 gallon tank ( bought it yesterday ) and it is swimming side to side, up and down the wall of the tank. You can take a sample to your local fish store and they can test it for you. Last week, I moved them to a different tank, a 29, with some cherry barbs, I did a large water change (50%) yesterday and saw them swimming up and down the glass… I unfortunately do not have a quarantine tank. If not kept in proper groups, they will become stressed very easily. I quess, as a novice to the whole fishy business I don't know a lot yet and just need some reassurance that they won't die on me overnight:0. Make the best decisions you can for the fish under your care, and learn along the way. I don't recommend keeping them in jars but bettas tend to stay relatively static . I heard it means they are trying to mate, but I guess the platy doesn't understand shes pregnant. The same can happen with overfeeding, where there is too much uneaten food decaying in the tank. If so how do you know about the fertile or not fertile part? The platy is the one who got her pregnant. If you want to add more fish in a tank with them i would suggest bringing the tank size up to around 10 gallons or more but be careful because they are territorial and aggressive. Without enough room to swim and live a fish will be stressed. Or do i need it lower? It could mean they aren’t happy in their environment, for one reason or another. Just a dirty snapshot of the bandit that thinks he's a panda. To do this you will have to post it youtube (or another social media) and then send us the link Here is a video a took the other day. Water parameters are good? They occasionally swim up and down the glass either in pairs or all 4 of the. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. He sometimes kind of kind of put his head against the glass and kind of swims into it. It has 8 harlequin rasboras and 6 young peppered corydoras. Maybe its because i removed their cave, although i never really saw them utilise it. When I had one cory, it would swim against the glass up and down and side to side. Bare in mind green corys can grow to 3 inches. It seems to be normal thing to do. The male takes a position across the front of the female (called T-position) and after that the female … It's a long story, but she was a rescue fish that I've had for awhile. The male gripped the females barbels with one of its pectoral fins, … The first thing that you notice when you acquire this species is the relentless swimming motions in the aquarium, … As … You may wish to try to rehome the bala shark and consider more appropriate fish for your 20 gallon. I know my 3 harlequins are too little, im actually judt waiting for the store to get more stock, so definitely adding more . They have SO much more personality than any of my other fish. They have a cave and plants, and a 5.5 gallon tank. Hopefully that is all it is. By H. Krisp [CC BY 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons. I had him with my Betta fish for a while (maybe being bullied?). Immediately after feeding, they head back to swimming back and forth against the glass. Good luck. Once again this comes down to understanding the fish you intend to stock. You need to test the water, especially if you used old tank water. Good luck! I had a molly baby problem before and don't want to go thru that again. So I’m wondering what’s wrong with my balashark. It could mean they aren’t happy in their environment, for one reason or another. If anything, a small piece of old filter fabric or sponge added to the new filter would do as well if not better.). You’ve had a few answers already, with contradictory information. Once an aquarium is up and running, it is vital to perform frequent water changes. 1. matthewchambers11. (In the future, you don't need to do this. But I'm wondering about it. (Air stone, maybe?) The Panda Catfish, Corydoras panda : Maintenance And Breeding The Panda Catfish, ... Once a group of juveniles has been acquired, and settled into a new home, the aquarist may notice that they begin swimming up and down the aquarium glass in groups, alternating this with 'powerhead surfing', seeming to take a delight in swimming against the current. Some fish, as stated already, may be eating microscopic organisms. It's a generally accepted fact that Corydoras babies are the cutest on the planet. The reasons it may be glass surfing are listed in this article. There are no other fish in there. If you aren’t sure if your tank water is healthy it is easy enough to find out. Has he calmed down at all? both the tanks are semi heavily planted and the smaller invertebrates are surviving like my shrimp and so, so I can't imagine that there's a parasite or disease or distress or whack water parameters going on... Eric Dockett (author) from USA on July 20, 2020: @patricia - Good to hear it! More is better . The cory is now doing what a cory does and is currently snuffling around the tank with his barb i believe the PH was actually too low and after i put in a little PH up he settled down and went about his searching for food, Also i personally don't believe in that group rule, i have had the second dora for a long time (1 year to be exact) yes when i got him he used to have a buddy but he died from old age after that the lone cory lived for several months without a friend eventually i decide to get him a buddy as i was feeling guilty for him and had the space for it so that is why i don't believe in the 4-6 group rule for doras they seem to do fine with only one buddy or alone to me. No fatalities and the other fish are super chilled. Their flanks can be fairly dark to a somewhat lighter … Congrats Matt, nice write-up . Nov 12, 2017. Cory catfish may be pregnant... Is there a way to tell if an albino Cory is... Cory eggs? One evening the female was very active swimming up and down the front of the glass and showing great interest in one of the males and butting him on the side, after a time the male began to chase the female around the tank, eventually they settled on the gravel in the characteristic 'T' position. All of the issues listed above are magnified in small tanks. All I was given was some baby shrimp and conditioner. He could just be adjusting. However, in many cases, the issue comes down to poor stocking decisions or tank size choices. Occasional glass surfing isn’t anything to worry about. They don't like moving water and 5 gallons is a waste of tank. First off, they do a lot of swimming. Otherwise you are just guessing if or when the tank is cycled. Why do Corydoras swim up and down glass? They are it's only population with a few snails. Reply. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on January 24, 2020: @Diana - Did you perform a water change and test the water before adding the fish? When the bioload exceeds the ability of the microbe colonies to process the waste, the water quickly fouls. By Lerdsuwa (Own photo) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 ] via Wikimedia Commons. My Cory catfish has been lying on his side now for almost 3 weeks! Apart from making the filter output weaker nothing changed. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on January 12, 2019: @Sandy - It's hard to know why your molly is glass surfing without knowing more about the tank. He didn’t do it to the side, but the one on the right does twitch upward right at the beginning of the video. The tank is a little small, and you are cycling it with the fish in it. The best way to know is if you send us a video. This is why it is so important to research the needs of any fish you intend to stock before you even bring them home. That helps alleviate the situation you are describing, where one female is harassed relentlessly. A bullied fish is under constant stress, and you may find them pacing the glass or hiding all the time. I can't find anything other than swim bladder disease but I know it can't be that. The only time they are on the bottom of the tank is during feeding time (I break up and soak flakes in water and add them at the same time as dry flakes, so the soaked flakes sink the bottom), during which they happily vacuum up lots of flakes. Already fed them. I and waiting for my aquarium shop to stock more harlequins to see if this theory is correct and I just need more in my school. Emerald Green Cory Dora......resting vertically??/. Cory Up And Down The Glass. There are less extreme examples. acquire this species is the relentless swimming motions in the aquarium, especially in a species only breeding tank setup. Hi, i recently got betta. Fin nippers like tiger barbs may stress angelfish. Gravel with sharp edges will cut their barbels until they are gone. I have 9 Rosy barbs that were in a 10 gallons (they hatched there, their eggs came with the plants) than I moved to a 55 gallons this weekend. There is really no comparison to how they act when there are lots of them and how they act when there are only two or one. I always recommend at least a five-gallon tank for a single betta fish, and a ten-gallon tank for tropical fish. If your water parameters are healthy your fish are less likely to show signs of stress such as glass surfing. Sometimes it happens that a Cory species considered to be difficult to breed spontanously spawns to the glass of a community tank. But I wouldn't add any more fish to that small tank. These behaviours all have … In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the common reasons fish glass surf and what you can do about it. Bacteria can also be the cause of this which can be cured with store bought medicine purposely for Swim Bladder Disease. Corydoras eques was, not so long ago, the holy grail for Corydoras catfish keepers. I want to give them a better chance at living. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of experience breeding fish. The second issue is very important for semi-aggressive fish like gouramis, angelfish and bettas. Waste chemicals build up in all tanks, and every fish keeper must take steps to reduce them. For example, if you intend to have tank mates with a betta fish you need to put some effort into researching your best options, and how to do it correctly. I suggest talking with someone who does so you can find out the best way to manage her while she is pregnant for the safety of her and the fry. Poor water conditions could account for the glass surfing. The decor I have is three live plants and a driftwood piece that takes up less than half my tank. Your fish may also feel physically crowded in an overstocked tank, which can result in them pacing the glass. There are also inexpensive test kits you can use at home that will let you know how healthy your water is in a matter of minutes. I say "him" but the other issue is that I don't know the gender of the fish (hence why I acquired "him"). I can say you have a few things working against you. In some cases an aggressive betta may cause stress for other fish in the tank. Female bettas are typically best kept in "sororities" of five or more fish. I don't think my fish are stressed out, I believe they are playing. You didn't mention if you cycled your tank and tested your water. Right. Good luck! The only other fish in the tank right now are neons and otos, and the stocking density is light. And one of the common symptoms of stress in bettas is glass surfing. But what I've noticed with the Tetras, that I've only had for 2 months, is that I spotted 2 of them swimming nose up, against the current...I've never seen something like that and all the fish seem fine. He was in a lab but jumped out of the tank and the professor gave him to me because he didn't know which tank he came from (this is important later). The species name derives from Latin and means Knight, Horseman or Rider, hence its common name. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on July 23, 2020: Hi Mia - I can only take guesses of course, but here are a few thoughts: About the loaches: I'm wondering if you changed something about their hiding spot when you changed the tank and either they can't get to it anymore or can't find a new spot they like. I just recently got my two pregnant guppies a few hours ago. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. So, a have a 20 gallon high heavily planted tank. So, to prevent your fish from glass surfing you’ll do everything you can to keep their water clean, so they don’t get feel stressed and get sick. Archive View Return to standard view. There are some big things – size aside – that set the pygmy apart from other cory cats. You can certainly see if you have high levels of ammonia. When I added the other two, it's at least doubled in severity. A 5-inch goldfish would ideally have a 20-gallon tank all to himself. About the rasboras and tetras: I've noticed many small fish do weird things when they aren't in big enough schools. Ok, so I've had the harlequins for 6months and they swim like crazy like they love it when I do water changes and they would swim against the current, now I've read that they sometimes glass surf because they see their reflection and is trying to school with more of their kind. Pets. ), Hi I bought a Texas Cichlid fish and I put him in a 30 gallon tank and he keeps surfing the glass sometimes then he’ll go back to normal like he’ll swim hide a little then swim but sometimes he just surfs idk if it’s the tank size or my ph. My new green cory dora is swimming up and down the glass i do not understand why yes there is some algae on the glass but not much. and if so how long does it usually takes for him to adjust ? I recieved them from my dad who got them from his boss who were going to throw them out. She didn't use to do it before - she was actually pretty chill compared to the other one - all the way until I put some filter sponge on the filter output pipe to weaken the flow a bit (it was a little strong before and made them struggle and visibly annoyed them, now it still makes the water move but isn't pushing them around). Eric Dockett (author) from USA on February 18, 2020: @Yesika - It sounds like you are trying your best. This is when fish constantly swim up and down the sides of the aquarium glass. Hi I have about a 20 L or 4.3 gal and have a betta fish. So it's not that odd. patricia or pat from Glendale, arizona on July 17, 2020: i just got 4 otos about 5 days ago i have them in my quarantine tank i see two of them like to do this glass surfing i tryed feeding them algae wafer and they wouldnt eat them so i tryed rapashy and they go for it great but one still doing the glass surfing it make's me stressed to see them stressed i want to helo them but dont know what to do, water parameters are perfect they have plants ect. I have seen a stressed loach before, swimming with his head out the water all frantic, ---this is not what they look like, they barely touch the surface. We hear it time and time again when looking after bettas. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 22, 2020: Hi Blaire. Why is my Cory swimming like a regular fish? They also don’t seem to be eating much as well... what I have as of now food wise is the Tetra baby shrimp and the Tetra tropical flakes. There is also no fish in the tank bothering the cory and there is another cory of the same kind living in a rock but the one that is swimming up and down has not joined him. Hard to say. Overstocking is another problem that may lead to stress behaviors in your fish, and this issue is closely related to water quality. Low water temperature can slow the digestive process, which in turn can result in gastrointestinal tract enlargement that puts pressure on the swim bladder. Is he the only Cory of his type? Wow, I really don't know much about them, expect that this is one of the most interesting fish I ever heard of someone keeping. One reason they do this is stress. Any animal confined to too small of a living space is going to want out. Daniel Rodrigues. While they can make excellent community fish, schooling fish that don’t live in large enough schools tend to exhibit unnatural, stressed behaviors such as glass surfing or, worse, occasional aggression. It's hard to guess. Quote; Link to post Share on other … The pair repeats this process until about eggs have been fertilized and attached Ref. It is smart to quarantine new fish for at least two weeks. I've had lots do this. And they spawned again today. The tetras are 5x lemon & 5x Xray's they all shoal together. See Answer . This gives them the social interactions they need without undue stress on any one fish. Hi, ill do a water test tonight but currently with all my tests the ph is good (i cant remember the value but its in the green/good zone). After the party they were moved to a 5”x5” vase and brought to my home. I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear, but a bala shark simply isn't appropriate for a 20-gallon tank. Good and healthy weight and not really shy and just happy and eating well. They do come down and sand sift, but then go back to going up and down glass constantly. Laboratory research has shown us that social fish can become depressed when deprived of the company of their own kind. Images are copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on August 11, 2019: @IsabelaK - Unfortunately I can't say whether or not your fish will die overnight. Corys are social animals and need groups of their own kind ( same kind they don't school with others) of 4-5 or more. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Those are two important steps. Betta fish often swim up and down the glass when they are stressed in their tanks. No gill flaring ot frantic fins, just cruising the glass. are perfect can the fry go into the big tank yet is tht why there surffing if not when can they join there parents in the 20L. It can cause stress and even death if left unchecked. Put simply, more fish create more waste. It’s important to remember that fish act in all kinds of unexpected ways in an aquarium. Nov 12, 2017 . Corydoras species prefer sandy substrate as they enjoy rooting about in it looking for morsels of food. The tank is a little small for him but I assume he is a juvenile. Have you seen the videos of how these fish school in the Amazon? How long would fishes in a new tank display such behavior? Corydoras will appreciate some cover in the form of rocks or bogwood. Tank size, tankmates, etc? I raise bettas and I can tell you its a myth they need a tank of 5 gallons. My swordtail is pregnant and already had one fish, so we put her in the breeding box. There may be something we can change in their environment that will help them to calm down, such as improving their water conditions. Since the whole thing was time-sensitive (again, living in a vase with no filter/heater) there was no time to properly establish the tank. We weren’t prepared to have fish but we also didn’t want them being thrown out after being decor for a few hours... Eric Dockett (author) from USA on February 07, 2020: Hi Jamie. If so, what kind of fish should I try to pair him with? Lifestyle. But when we have too many fish, things can get out of whack. Bigger if this is a community tank that will be Housing other similar sized fish. In other cases, the betta may be picked on, and he’ll be the one exhibiting signs of stress. More seriously, they can make your fish ill. What now? This natural behavior is very important to consider when stocking fish in the home aquarium. Forums. She seemed too stressed and didn't like the small amount of space to continue having her babies, so after 2 days we put her back into the tank. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on July 17, 2020: @Josh - Sorry it took so long do respond. I have had them 2 days, drip acclimated. I dont get why they do it, especially one of them that does it constantly. Yesika Guzman from USA on February 17, 2020: Hello! Could it be the new environment ? Eric Dockett (author) from USA on November 29, 2019: @H3II-0 - They ought to settle down in a day or two if everything else is in good shape. What are your parameters for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, just to make sure your water is ok? No tank mates until today. Why is my cory dora swimming up and down? These fish live in huge schools in the wild, with numbers ranging in the dozens, up to the hundreds or even thousands. That social fish like Cory cats can live, without a group of their own kind, is one thing and they can live that way. If you intend to have more than a few fish these problems are exacerbated even further. That’s a good thing. I finally found a nice local pet shop that carried healthy peppered corys at a … last updated – posted 2015-Jan-29, 8:58 am AEST posted 2015-Jan-29, 8:58 am AEST User #661187 986 posts. A pair of angelfish may or may not get along, and one may lash out at the other, or at other tank mates. Most cories can be seen rooting around the bottom of the tank, but these guys go everywhere.And they do swim instead of scoot about on the bottom.. They’re also awesome at playing dead. It’s very easy to use and it tests for pH, high range pH, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia. An influx of fresh water simulates rainfall and the start of the rainy season, which may kick in their spawning instincts. They have water movement and air. Fish exhibit many behaviors that tell us how they are feeling, and glass surfing (also known as pacing) is one of them. Most time spawning activities are induced by a water change. These conditions can lead to excess algae buildup or even a pest snail outbreak. Can be prone to infection of the barbels if kept in poorly maintained gravel. I admire anyone that questions the common beliefs and forms there own opinions.I to have had the loss of Corys and had to keep them on their own or in groups smaller than the recommended. I haven't checked the water levels yet, as the tank is not even a week old and the person at the shop advised me to wait for a bit more with that as the readings won't be very reliable as the tank establishes itself... Should I be concerned about my girl's behavior or should I give her some time to get used to the tank and new conditions? Neutral-Waterinos. 2. david. So far, no ammonia, no nitrite and just a little nitrate. It's so weird seeing this because other than them acting so funny, there arent any fatalities, so im holding thumbs that they just being weirdos hahaha. If anyone can help thanks. Are they swimming up and down the decor and the glass? If the water tests okay and temp, water flow, etc aren't causing stress you might try making small changes to decorations. I'm not sure if this is from being kept in a lab or something else. Then you’ll be the one climbing the walls! Whirlpool … There are even some instances where pacing the glass is normal and expected, such as when a fish is new to its environment, after you perform a water change or other major tank maintenance, or when people are standing near the tank and the fish may expect food. Good luck! @Comet - Bala sharks are schooling fish that grow to up to a foot in length and should be kept in groups of six or more. I am also thinking, because they are scaleless, that the additions to the tank may be affecting them more than the other fish.You said you thought the water quality is okay, but did you test it? Also, I believe the tetra glofish are bred from blackskirt tetras, which are schooling fish. Eric Dockett (author) from USA on April 17, 2020: @Kierra - What size tank is he in and what kind of fish is in there with him? The color of Corydoras eques partially depends on the substrate they live on. Give them a gallon, no aeration and regular water changes and they are very happy. But maybe you’ve gone through the situations above and don’t believe any of them apply to your situation. I suggest having your tank water tested as well as the water straight from your source. The water is crystal clear and everything is fine- i just put him in today and he cant stop pacing. So it’s vital that you make sure your tank water is perfect As well as a build-up of ch… Sometimes it stops and joins the other two that swim around the bottom. Watch for bullying behaviors in species such as the dwarf gourami. Anyway, he is a hearty fish and I haven't had any problems with him. The gravel is only about a week old, but I've added a little extra food at feeding time so they'll have some left along the bottom when they go looking. I cycled the aquarium beforehand with water from another already cycled tank and put some starting bacteria in to help the proces. Otherwise, it is hard to guess what is going on. They used the fishes as decor and kept them in a wide-ish wine bottle. Is something that i did wrong? Good luck! Hi Eric! This is when fish constantly swim up and down the sides of the aquarium glass. I'm not sure what the shop person meant by the readings not being reliable. I changed my betta female koi to a larger tank at first she was excited and happy a few days later she started to glass surf non stop i tired everything i think she was happier in the old tank. Like they were already pretty confident and coming out even when the light was on (my other tank's loaches hide all the time) Anyway, I've done an upgrade on the aquascape and added more plants and some almond leaves and occasionally add some of the water I boiled the almond, alder, banana leaves, cinnamon sticks and cones in. menu Whirlpool Go to navigation. As aquarium keepers, it is up to us to examine the situation and determine the cause of their stress. It's been about 5 days now. patricia or pat from Glendale, arizona on July 19, 2020: ty Eric for your response Ottos doing better today feeding Rapashy Soilent Green and added Cattopa leaves everyone in the take is doing great no more glass surffing by the way when can i put them in the 20 L tank and out of quarantime.