Do Zebra Danios Need An Air Pump? (Complete Information)

Zebra danios are freshwater species that do not need an air pump in their natural habitat. But, when you place them under an artificial environment, will your fish require an air pump to thrive?

So, do your zebra danios need an air pump? Let us find out.

Zebra danios need an air pump as it helps to keep the tank well-oxygenated. The air pump maintains the tank’s oxygen level by creating water movements on the tank’s surface. Adding lots of aquatic plants, a water filter, and regular water changes also helps keep your zebra danios tank oxygenated.

The below article discusses the benefits of an air pump in your zebra danios tank. In addition, we will also learn the other ways to add oxygen to your fish tank.

Why do zebra danios need an air pump in their tank?

An air pump helps keep the tank well oxygenated, eventually providing a stress-free environment in your fish tank.

An air pump helps maintain your zebrafish tank’s oxygen level by increasing the water movements on the tank’s water surface.

Likewise, other fishes, even zebra danios, require enough oxygen to thrive, making air pumps essential.

As zebra danios are active species, they also benefit from the extra oxygen and water movements produced by an air pump.

Zebra danios use their gills to intake oxygen from the water, and it will be a task for your fish to breathe if your tank is not well-oxygenated.

A lack of oxygen in the water can make your zebrafish gasp for air at the top of the tank’s water surface, leading to extreme stress in your fish and making them pass away.

Therefore, we recommend adding an air pump to your zebra danios tank to ensure the longer lifespan of your fish.

Also, read: Do Zebra Danios Need Oxygen?

How long can zebra danios survive without an air pump?

Your zebra danios will not be able to survive for more than 2-3 days without an air pump in entirely still water.

However, you can ensure water movements by adding a filter to your tank, which helps to create aeration on the tank’s water surface.

But, adding an air pump will ensure enough aeration in the tank, making it a comfortable environment for your zebra danios.

In addition, the beneficial bacteria in the tank need oxygen to break down harmful chemicals like nitrite and ammonia.

Lack of oxygen in the tank will not allow the beneficial bacteria to break down such harmful chemicals, eventually leading to a spike in the tank’s oxygen level and making your zebrafish suffer from significant health problems.

So, we recommend to add an air pump to your zebra danios tank as it helps prevent such risk and keep your tank well oxygenated.

Best air pump for your zebra danios tank

You can add any air pump available in the market as your zebra danios do not have any specific demand for an air pump.

However, we advise adding a Tetra Whisper air pump as it is very silent and easy to use.

You can buy it from Amazon Tetra Whisper Air Pump.

You can use this product for 10-100 gallons of tank.

Here are the equipment needed to install an air pump in your tank

1. Air Pump
2. Check valve
3. Air stones
4. Airline tubing

Below are the directions to install an air pump on your tank

1. Firstly, you must connect one end of the tubing to the outlet in the air pump.
2. According to the instruction, you should now cut the tubing and install a check valve.
3. Now cut the tubing again to install the air control valve to adjust the required flow.
4. Now you can connect the air stone or other equipment and place it in your tank.
5. Finally, your air pump is ready to keep your zebra danios tank well-oxygenated. 

Can zebra danios survive in a fishbowl without an air pump?

Zebra danios are active species and require enough oxygen to thrive.

You cannot add an air pump or a water filter when you place your zebra danios in a bowl that is required to keep your fishbowl well- oxygenated.

So, your fish will not be able to survive in a fishbowl for a more extended period due to oxygen deficiency in the bowl.

However, you can add many aquatic plants to your fishbowl to maintain the oxygen level, but it will consume all the space making your bowl more overcrowded.

Generally, a bowl does not offer enough room for your fish to swim, and adding aquatic plants will make it more congested, making your fish suffer from extreme stress and other health problems.

You will also have to perform water changes every three days to keep your tank oxygenated. Such frequent water changes can lead to extreme stress in your zebra danios.

Therefore, we recommend placing your zebra danios in a bigger tank with all the necessary equipment like a water filter and an air pump to ensure the adequate development of your fish.

Also read: Can Zebra Danios Live In A Bowl?

How to tell if your zebra danios tank requires more oxygen?

Here are the ways to tell if your zebra danios tank requires more oxygen

1. Your zebra danios breathing heavily and increasing its gills movements indicates oxygen deficiency in the tank.
2. Your zebra danios being lethargic and staying still indicates oxygen deficiency in the tank.
3. Your zebrafish gulping air at the top of the tank’s water surface indicates a lack of oxygen in the tank. 
4. Your zebrafish swimming in an unusual pattern indicates a lack of oxygen in the tank. 
5. No water movement in the tank’s water surface indicates a lack of oxygen in the tank.

The above factors indicate that your tank requires more oxygen. 

Therefore, we advise you to add an air pump in your zebra danios tank for your fish’s adequate growth and development. 

Other ways to add oxygen to your zebra danios tank?

There are many ways to add oxygen to your zebra danios tank. Some of them are as follows

1. Add a water filter
2. Add live aquatic plants
3. Perform regular water changes

Add a water filter

A water filter helps keep you well-oxygenated by eliminating all the leftovers and maintaining the tank’s water quality. 

It also helps to protect your fish from toxic chemicals like ammonia and nitrite that can lead to significant health problems in your zebra danios. 

You can add any water filter to your zebra danios as they do not have any particular demand. 

But, we recommend adding a Fluval High Performance filter to your fish tank as it helps keep your tank well-oxygenated.

You can buy it from Amazon Fluval High Performance Aquarium Filter.

Also, read: Do Zebra Danios Need A Filter?

Add aquatic plants

You should add a lot of live aquatic plants to your zebra danios tank as it helps maintain your tank’s oxygen level and acts as a hiding spot for your fish. 

Here are some live aquatic plants you can add to their zebra danios tank

1. Java Moss
2. Java Fern
3. Ancharis
4. Duckweed

Perform regular water changes

You should perform regular water changes in your zebrafish tank to maintain the tank’s water quality.

We recommend performing a 30% water change weekly to ensure your tank’s water quality and your fish’s well-being.

In addition, you must treat your freshwater with the help of a water conditioner as it helps remove all the heavy metals from the water. 

We recommend to use an API tap water conditioner to treat your freshwater.

You can purchase it from Amazon  API TAP WATER CONDITIONER.

Conclusion:

1. An air pump helps maintain your zebrafish tank’s oxygen level by increasing the water movements on the tank’s water surface. 
2. Your zebrafish will not be able to survive for more than 2-3 days without an air pump in entirely still water. 
3. We recommend adding a Tetra Whisper air pump as it is very silent and easy to use.
4. Your zebrafish will not be able to live in a fishbowl for longer due to insufficient oxygen in the bowl.
5. Your zebra danios, being lethargic, swimming in unusual patterns, or gulping air at the tank’s surface indicates oxygen deficiency in the tank.
6. So, adding an air pump to your fish tank will be advisable to ensure your fish’s adequate growth and development. 

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Reference: NCBI