White Cloud minnows swimming only in top inch of tank?

Question

I've had my white clouds for almost a week, and for some reason, they will only stay in the top inch of the tank (never going any lower), and I don't understand why. What could possibly be going on?

All the random stats I can think of about the tank:

It's a 2.5 gallon tank with 3 white clouds, a betta, and a snail. I realize that is a bit of an overload, but it's only temporary until I can get them to college next week. Tank has no filtration (not allowed where I'm going to college), but I change 75% of the water every two days. Water pH is around 7.4. Temperature about 75 degrees F. Ammonia level has never gone above .25 ppm.

I've never seen the betta harass the white clouds (I watched them for an hour straight when I first got them to make sure they'd get along), but I've also never seen them leave the top inch. The betta is the only thing I can think of though.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Darn it -- never listen to people at Wal-Mart, they don't know what they're talking about.

Thanks for the speedy answers, guys, I'll choose a Best Answer as soon as it lets me. Looks like I'll have to pester my RA, hopefully I can get them to make an exception.

Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

You need a filter, or at least, an aerator. You seem to be doing a great job otherwise, although even .25 ppm ammonia does need to be watched carefully, but filters not only remove toxic elements from the tank, they also provide oxygen that fish need and will die without. Now, they can get oxygen by gulping air from the top of the water, like they're doing, but few fish are equipped to handle that. They will eventually gulp too much air and get bloated and get swim bladder disease. Fish who have labyrinths, such as bettas, are equipped to handle this. The labyrinths are located on the top of the head, behind the eyes, so they aren't sucking air into their body through their mouths. So your betta would be okay without a filter, but the rest of your fish are going to have problems. I would suggest finding another home for your white clouds if you cannot have a filter or aerator.

EDIT: Yes, I will ditto your "darn it!"

Answer 2

For one your not letting the benifical bacteria build up in the tank the way it should be by empting the water 75% every 2 days 3 days, never empty the tank 75%, 25% is enough,50% if the water is dirt , you should always when having fish ,is a good filteration system and oxygen system, and yes having only a 2 1/2 gal tank, is no way going to keep 4 fish happy and alive much longer, it's very well possible if you had a great filteration system and a good quality air pump to move the water around successfully you could have 2 fish in that size of a tank without any real problems! just the beta alone, yes !you can have that small tank and no filteration system for a beta or a gold fish, but many fish because of being raised in filteration system tanks, and plenty of oxygen can not survive very long without it!

My best answer I can give you is seeing your not allowed to have a filteration system for your tank when you get to college, Give the fish to a freind who already have fish with all neccessary things your fish need and a good size tank not to over crowd there tank by putting your fish in there tank, Plus it would be smart for them to quarantine your fish for a week first before putting them into there main tank, just in case your fish are sick now!

The reason your place of college doesn't allow filteration systems for aquariums because if there were to be power outage the tank water would reverse syphon and get the tank water all over the floor in a matter of time and they may have had that problem, but there are anti syphon products you can buy and put into the line of the air pump, but not the filteration systems that sit out on back of the aquariums, plus many filteration systems that sit on the back outside aquarium after the filters get to plugged up and water can't get through, can also over flow water onto the floor!

I would say it would probablly be a better idea for you to find your fish a new home while your away to college ( At least for the white clouds) and when your through with college you can always get yourself a bigger tank and have fish the right way, so you can have many, many years of enjoyment watching them swimming in there tank!

That 2 1/2 gal. tank you have was made for 1 or 2 very small fish and that's it!, Most people that have fish only use that size tank for a holding tank for a new fish, or for baby fish they took out of there big tank so they didn't become meals to the larger fish! That 2 1/2 gal tank you have would be Better for just your 1 beta alone, but when you started adding more fish, in such a small tank and no filteration system! Well your not going to have any soon if you don't at least get the filteration system on the tank and get rid of the of the white clouds, the tank just isn't big enough for 4 fish to live happly!

Plus another bad thing you got going on in your aqariunm is you state you have a snail , Check it everyday to make sure it's always a live,Snails are the biggest polutins in a aqarium when they die, they can end up killing off all your fish in a very fast time, they rott very quickly! and pollute the whole tank!

You'd be been off with a Plecosimus, and it will do a better job in your tank then a snail, but get a very small one because of the size of your tank, one that is about 2 inches to 3 inches long! no bigger!

Example:
Could you and 3 of your family members live in your house bathroom! That's about what your making all of your fish do!

Answer 3

It's because you have no filtration in your tank, and white cloud minnows need that
They are searching for oxygen
Sorry but you will need to get a filter


Hope that helps]
Good luck


EB

Answer 4

you need filters in your tank. i would not recommend doing a daily 75 water change each day, you will never buildup beneficial bacteria in your tank and this will drastically shorten the life of your fish. filters also stop the water from going stagnant and put oxygen into the water.

If you cant meet the needs of your fish then you should not keep fish!