[Andyandsue]

I feel like this is such a silly question, but should I remove the fish from my tank when I clean it? As of now, I'll be removing 2 plastic plants and some gravel for a rinsing and then a small water change. I'm worried about stressing the fish, but I'm not sure what is more stressful; having the tank cleaned while they are in there, or removing them while I clean it. It would take less time if I didn't have to move so gently, being very careful of my curious little danios swimming around my hand!

I have a 3 gallon for now, but it will be a 10-20 in the next few weeks.

Thank you!

 

[soco1125]

It shouldn't be necessary to remove them. Danios are pretty resilient and as long as you don't take more than 1/3 to 1/2 of the water out you should be fine.

 

[Train Tracks]

You can leave the fish in the tank and it'll be no problem for the fish. Even in a big tank, when I'm vacuuming the gravel, I still spook my fish. It's inevitable. But since your tank is so small, I would try to have the new water you put in your tank relatively close to the same temp as your aquarium water.

 

[Andyandsue]

Thank you, I also figured that since 1 gallon is a 1/3 of their water. I keep a gallon of dechlorinated water in a jug in the same room as the tank so it's always the same temperature. They are so curious that they swim around my hand while I work. They do get a bit nervous when I remove the plants though.

 

[FDStation152]

Just a tip for when it comes to changing water if you dont want to stress the fish with changes in water quality, temp, etc. This is more important with some fish than with others as some handle the small flucuations much better than others. I prepare the water I'm going to be adding to the tank in 1 gallon jugs and syphon it into the tank with airline tubing. Any changes it makes to the main water in the tank is atleast more spread out over time (a gallon takes atleast 10 minutes to syphon in with airline tubing) and is less stressful to the fish.