A neighbor just gave 2 fish to me. I'm a newbie fishkeeper and I'd like some help in finding out their species, since she doesn't know what species they are. She says they're kept in 70-75F water and she feeds them them tropical fish flakes. They lived in a filtered, 5-10 gallon tank and she's kept them for about 5 years. They're both very small, no bigger than 1.25inches, and the striped one keeps turning over. The striped has a completely solid dark silver back. I'd love to know where to start in taking care of them. I took some pics, from the top view and then from the view of the side of a Sterilite bin. Could someone please help? ^_^
I'm not sure what the striped one is though it looks like a possible zebra danio?
I think the red one is a red phantom tetra.
If I am correct both of these fish need groups of six or more. There are profiles on them in the Tropical Fish Profile section. If you are to get more of them you would need a larger tank than a ten gallon.
Thank you for responding so quickly! Now I'm just not sure what to do to keep them alive for the night. My neighbor just gave them to me a few hours ago, because she's moving and she thought it was better than flushing them down the toilet. And I don't think she has the tank anymore. The Petsmart and my local fish store are both closed, and since I only keep a betta without cycling his tank I don't have a tank, filter, or heater to spare. I'm keeping them in a Sterilite container on my desk with a lamp shining on them, plastic canvas for a lid, I'm trying to bring their pH down with a drop here and there (my local water has 8+ pH). But the danio's belly up already after about an hour of twitching upside-down at the surface. I guess the shock must have been too much for him. :-( Is there anything I can do? :-?
I agree the striped one is a Zebra Danio.. and it would be a miracle if it survives. It's been beaten to hell and back. I really dont think theres anything anyone could do even in optimal conditions.
The other one I would say is a Serpae Tetra. Not a good companion for your betta if they are in same tank. Rehome it ASAP. Give it to the pet store in the morning perhaps.
I would imagine your neighbors water is the same PH as yours, unless she used distilled water.
the one is a phantom tetra and it looks like a zebra danio but larger tetras can get aggressive i had a black phantom tetra and it chased all my small fish i only had one and it was a long finned one i got 3 more and put them in their own tank and their happy Posted via Mobile Device
There is definitely a long finned Serpae tetra there and definitely a Zebra danio. Serpae sp. Var. Can all be fin nippers and are obligatory shoaling fish. Otherwise expect aggression and fin nipping. Danios while not obligatory shoalers will never do well as solitary fish, that said nor are they aggressive. Keep both of these species as groups of six or more preferable to avoid problems. Posted via Mobile Device
The Serpae will need a group, 8 or more, in a 30g minimum tank. As mentioned, alone it will almost certainly be aggressive. If you want this species, and have the tank space, get 7 more, but other tankmates will have to be carefully chosen. This is not a community fish in the normal sense. Otherwise, rehome him or ...
Byron.
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