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What does it mean when.....?

7K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  Trishfish 
#1 ·
I have neon tetras and I've noticed lately that a few of them point themselves at a 45 degree down angle and make little jerky swimming movements. What does this mean? They don't always do this.
 
#2 ·
Hi Trish.

What are your water parameters?:)
 
#3 ·
I just did my weekly 30% water change today. Params have been stable before changes but of course now they're ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate barely at 5. I've seen this behavior for all the time I've had them and they seem to do it in pairs. I was wondering if it was somehow a mating thing.
 
#4 ·
Trishfish said:
I just did my weekly 30% water change today. Params have been stable before changes but of course now they're ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate barely at 5. I've seen this behavior for all the time I've had them and they seem to do it in pairs. I was wondering if it was somehow a mating thing.
I find the behavior odd. When you say 'now', were you saying the water parameters differ from what the results you have now?
 
#5 ·
Sorry, I just meant that naturally my nitrates are higher than before a water change. I test for ammonia all the time and it's virtually always zero. It will go to 0.25 the day after I feed frozen foods for some reason. Anyway, I've had the tetras about 5-6 weeks and have noticed this the past several weeks. They used to hide on me when I approached but now stay in the open, especially if it's feeding time. :) Maybe darting is a better word to use than jerking, but it happens five or six times then they go back to swimming normally. It's a sharp, quick downward motion.
 
#7 ·
I had the same problem before, and it was caused by sprinkling flake food on the water surface. As the tetras eat it, they take in a lot of air, hence the strange movements.

Try holding the flakes under the surface of the water for a couple of seconds and it will start to slowly sink. Should solve the problem :)
 
#9 ·
I'm glad I came across this thread as my two serpae tetras do the same thing.

Out of my five black widows and one rosy tetra, just the two serpaes will do this same motion only after eating and for a minute or two. I've had the serpae since January and they will do just as you describe regularly after a meal. If something catches their eye (more food, etc) they can swim normally and once they're done they'll go back to this motion. It doesn't happen after every feeding but most of the time. While they do this, they're often checking out the substrate to see if they can find any food down there (but not always) and when they find something they'll momentarily swim at a 90 degree angle to get it. It's definitely not a current because they will do this regardless of where they are in the tank.

I never though about kateyoup's idea and will pay more attention the next few feedings to see if I can notice any difference.

I'm glad to find out that me and my fish aren't just crazy. :p
 
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