fish acting funny?

Question

every time i change the water in my aquarium, all my zebra teras hang round the top, and my pearl gourmai also hangs round there. they will do this for about 3 days

Answer 1

I'd have to wonder how you're doing the water changes. Are you using a gravel vacuum to siphon out all the wastes that build up in the substrate (gravel/sand), or stirring it and then removing the dirty water with a cup or siphoning it out.

If you're doing the second, you may be stirring up the waste and maybe releasing hydrogen sulfide gas (smells like rotten eggs) that's built up in areas without oxygen. If you aren't getting all the wastes out of the tank on a regular basis, this may be increasing the ammonia and nitrite for a few days while these settle and decompose and the hydrogen sulfide is toxic to your fish. It may take the three days to get your water quality to settle back down.

If this is the case, change how you clean your tank by using a gravel vacuum (provided you have gravel not sand) by pushing the end of the tube into the gravel so all the waste is pulled straight up and out of the tank. Only try to clean about 1/3 of the gravel each time you do a 25% water change.

If you use sand, you can still ise a gravel vacuum, but you need to hold it above the sand, or the sand will be pulled up. If you see this starting to happen, bend the tubing on the vac, and the sand will fall back int othe tank.

Answer 2

They're hanging around the top because they're trying to gasp for air! Maybe the new water you put into the tank isn't of good enough quality like did you condition the water before putting it in because you can't just put fish into untreated tap water because there's some chemicals that are dangerous in it to fish! Also maybe the fish are finding it too cold because if a fish finds it cold they always go up to the the top of the tanks because that's where the warmest water can be found! Hope this helps & you find out what's happening soon x x x x x x x x

Answer 3

you're overstocked. every time a fish acts abnormally potential there is a few thing incorrect with the water, its the two extreme ammonia on condition that goldfish are grimy, or extreme nitrites, or extreme nitrates. infant/juvenile fancy goldfish choose 10 gallons in line with fish and infant/juvenile long bodied goldfish choose 20 gallons in line with fish. An grownup will choose atleast 50-60 gallons in line with fish. Goldfish have lifespans of 30 years an become 12-14 inches in length.

Answer 4

you have to make sure that you are NOT using soft water for one. and you should ALWAYS use some type of chlorine remover ( i recommend using "cycle") when using regular tap water and make sure the temp of the water you are adding is the same as what is in the tank. if you are changing ALL the water you have to set and fill the tank and let it settle for at least 24hrs before you add your fish. your fish are simply in a state of "shock" and it takes them (as you already know) 1-3 days to get adjusted to a changed environment. a chemical called "stress coat" is another good thing to use to help your fish when stressed. if you use a backside filter system you shouldnt have to change the water but 1-2 times a year.

Answer 5

You should only change out half at a time and make sure it is spring water not tap water with all the chemicals in it. Are you using a siphon hose and getting the junk out of the bottom every time?

Answer 6

They do that because they are adapting to the new cleaner water and they need air because the water has yet to adapt to the tanks temperature, and it just takes a few days to regulate. My fish do it too.

Answer 7

Are you de-clorinating the water? Are you changing only 1/2 of the water?

Answer 8

is ur filter running if it is get an airstone this happend to my fish its just a lack of water movment which gives the fish oxygen in the tank

Answer 9

They are 'hanging around the top' because they need 'air' ... I'd suggest you get a bigger filter for your aquarium, since it takes three days for the 'air' to get to the bottom of your tank.

Answer 10

well they are trying to get use to the tank because you changed the water