18 March 2014

oto update 6 + danios

The Otos continue to improve. They are both moving about the tank more, breathing easily, no sign of fungus. Sparky's color is back, the redness all gone. They both had rounded tummies this morning. Plenty of poo to clean out each morning, so I think they are eating some of the zucchini and perhaps a bit of the wafers I put in, definitely scraping off the algae rocks I cultivated. On second dose of fungus guard; I am now changing a half gallon of water just once a day, in the morning when I clean out the uneaten food.
I was concerned about my Danios, but the white spot on the lip is only noticeable in a certain light, and overall the fish still seem fine. I think if it was columnaris, they'd be looking bad now; that disease progresses quickly. The white spots are not fuzzy, either. It is very hard to get a photo, but I tried:
Their gills appear a bit rosy here, but again that only is seen in certain light. I checked Ammonia levels just in case, it is below 0.25. I can distinguish the four fish easily now; remaining are Gordo, Blip, and the last two I think Zee and Imo. Zee's upper stripes are closer together, making his back appear nearly solid blue; Imo has a small spot on the left side of caudal peduncle.

Blip is the one that hangs out near the bottom now- I wonder if that fish is not as healthy as the others, or just likes poking around in crevices and under things. Sides bulge out a bit. Maybe another gravid female? The other day at water change saw what I think is spawning behavior! Two of the fish swimming tight circles around each other, jerking their fins open in a kind of dance and then one (male, I think) would point himself at the other's midsection, forming a "t". I remember reading in a book that corydoras will make this "t" formation to trigger spawning, but don't know if danios do the same. Everywhere I read online just says the male chases female into plants to release the eggs.

Regardless, I'm not expecting to raise fry, so if they do spawn, will just let nature take its course (other fish eat the eggs). It's just interesting to watch the behavior.

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