Zebra danios are freshwater fishes that every aquarist prefers to add to their home aquarium at the beginning of their fish-keeping journey.
Zebra danios in captivity can live up to 2-5 years. But, your fish dying in a short period is unusual and questionable. So, why are my zebra danios dying? Let us find out.
Inadequate housing conditions and poor diet cause your zebra danios to die. However, other factors like unsuitable tankmates and illness also play a significant role in your zebra danio dying. Provide good water conditions and a stress-free environment in the tank to prevent such issues.
The below article will discuss the reasons behind your zebra danios dying. In addition, we will learn how to stop your zebra danios from passing away.
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Why is my zebra danio dying?
There can be numerous reasons like inadequate housing conditions and contaminated water in the tank behind your zebra danios passing away.
However, many other factors like aggressive tankmates, overfeeding, inadequate water parameters, and poor diet can also make your zebra danios pass away.
If you discover your zebra danios passing away in a shorter period, you must examine the tank before adding a new fish.
Therefore, we advise you to provide a healthy environment in the tank for the well-being of your fish and to ensure their longer lifespan.
What are the symptoms of a dying zebra danios?
Here are the symptoms of a dying zebra danios
- If you discover white spots in your zebra danios body, your fish is not well.
- Your zebra danios refusing their food indicates constipation in your fish.
- If you find your zebra danios swimming in erratic patterns, your fish is not well and requires immediate attention.
- Your zebra danios gasping for air at the top of the tank’s water surface indicates a lower oxygen level in the tank that can cause significant damage to your fish.
- Your zebra danios hiding from the other tankmates point towards incompatible tankmates that can cause stress in your fish.
- If you find your zebra danios bloating, it indicates a poor diet that can lead to severe health issues in your fish.
- Swollen fins of your zebra danios indicate fin rot that can make your fish suffer a lot.
- Your zebra danios rubbing themselves against the aquarium decors shows ich in your fish. Ich or white spot diseases can cause harm to your zebra danios.
- Your zebra danios laying at the tank’s bottom indicates inadequate housing conditions that can cause significant health issues in your zebra danios.
- If you discover your zebra danios losing their color, it shows poor housing conditions that can lead to severe health issues in your zebra danios.
The above are some symptoms of a dying zebra danios.
What are the reasons behind your zebra danios dying?
Here are the reasons behind your zebra danios dying
- Poor water conditions
- Overfeeding
- Illness
- Unsuitable tankmates
- Inadequate water parameters
- Overcrowded tanks
Poor water conditions
Poor water conditions are the root cause behind several health issues in your zebra danios, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
Contaminated water in the tank can weaken the immune system of your zebra danios, making them weak and prone to numerous diseases.
In addition, contaminated water in the tank can also lead to a drop in the tank’s oxygen level, making your fish suffer from oxygen deficiency and gasp at the top of the tank’s water surface, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
Overfeeding
Overfeeding can also be the reason behind your zebra danios passing away.
Overfeeding can lead to constipation, making your fish weak and pass away.
In addition, overfeeding can also lead to leftovers in the tank, further contaminating the tank’s water and leading to a spike in the tank’s ammonia level.
A spike in the tank’s ammonia level can lead to severe health issues like ammonia poisoning in your zebra danios, eventually making your zebra danios pass away.
Illness
Several diseases like fin rot and ich can be a reason behind your zebra danios passing away.
Poor tank conditions play a significant role in such diseases and many other health issues, eventually leading to the passing away of your zebra danios.
If you find your zebra danios suffering from such health problems, you should immediately consult a marine vet and provide the necessary treatment to your fish for their well-being.
Unsuitable tankmates
Unsuitable tankmates can also be a reason behind your zebra danios passing away.
Zebra danios are non-aggressive species that require a peaceful environment in the tank for their well-being and a longer lifespan.
Pairing your zebra danios with aggressive tankmates like betta can lead to severe tank aggression, eventually causing several physical injuries in your fish.
In addition, pairing your zebra danios with aggressive tankmates can also lead to stress in your zebra danios, making them weak and pass away eventually.
Inadequate water parameters
Inadequate water parameters can also make your zebra danios pass away.
Zebra danios are cold water fishes that prefer a water temperature between 64 to 75°F
Sudden change in the water temperature can lead to shock in your zebra danios, eventually making your fish pass away.
Therefore, inadequate water parameters can also lead to many other significant health issues making your zebra danios weak and pass away eventually.
Overcrowded tanks
Overcrowded tanks can also be the reason behind your zebra danios passing away.
Placing your zebra danios in an overcrowded tank can make your fish aggressive while competing for food.
In addition, overstocking your fish can also contaminate the tank’s water leading to numerous health issues in your zebra danios like loss of appetite and stress, eventually making your fish weak and pass away.
Therefore, overstocking zebra danios can also lead to a drop in the tank’s oxygen level, making your fish gasp at the top of the tank’s water surface and pass away eventually.
How can you stop your zebra danios from dying?
Here are the ways to stop your zebra danios from dying
- Provide good water conditions in the tank
- Avoid overstocking your zebra danios
- Maintain adequate water parameters in the tank
- Pair your zebra danios with suitable tankmates
- Avoid overfeeding your zebra danios
- Provide a stress-free environment in the tank
Provide good water conditions in the tank
Providing good water conditions in the tank will help prevent several health issues in your zebra danios and help ensure your fish’s longer lifespan.
Contaminated water in the tank can make your fish suffer from numerous health issues, eventually passing them away.
So, we advise you to perform a 30% water change weekly to maintain the tank’s water quality.
In addition, you should also add a sound filtration system in your zebra danios tank as it helps to eliminate the harmful toxins from the water and maintain the tank’s water quality.
We recommend using Fluval High Performance Aquarium as it helps to eliminate harmful bacteria.
You can buy it from Amazon Fluval High Performance Aquarium Filter.
Therefore, you should also keep checking the tank’s ammonia level. Excessive ammonia in the tank can lead to ammonia poisoning in your fish, eventually making them suffer and pass away.
We recommend using an API test kit to check the tank’s ammonia level as it provides accurate results.
You can buy it from Amazon API TEST KIT.
Avoid overstocking your zebra danios.
You should avoid overstocking your zebra danios to stop them from dying and for the well-being of your fish.
Ensure ample space in the tank to ensure the proper growth and development of your zebra danios.
We advise providing one gallon per inch of fish to ensure enough space in the tank.
Avoid placing your zebra danios in a bowl as it provides no space for your fish to swim, eventually affecting their growth.
Therefore, you should always provide a bigger tank than a bowl to your zebra danios for their adequate development and a longer lifespan.
Maintain adequate water parameters
You should provide adequate water parameters in the tank to stop your fish from passing away and ensure your zebra danios’ longer lifespan.
| Particulars | Zebra Danios |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 64-75°F |
| Ph Level | 6.5-7.0 |
| Ammonia level | 0ppm |
| Nitrite level | 0ppm |
| Nitrate Level | Below 20ppm |
- The ideal water temperature of your zebra danios should be between 64-75°F.
- The ideal pH level of your zebra danios should range between 6.5-7.0.
- The ammonia level of your zebra danios tank should be 0ppm.
- The nitrite level of your zebra danios tank should be 0ppm.
- The nitrate level of your zebra danios tank should be below 40ppm.Â
Pair your zebra danios with suitable tankmates
It would be best to pair your zebra danios with peaceful species to develop a healthy environment in the tank.
Pairing your zebra danios with aggressive tankmates can lead to severe aggression in the tank, causing several physical injuries to your fish.
So, we advise you always to pair your zebra danios with peaceful species to develop a healthy environment in the tank.
Here are some best tankmates for your zebra danios
- Rosy Barbs
- Gourami
- Pleco
- Guppies
- Loaches
The above are some best tankmates options for your zebra danios.
Avoid Overfeeding your zebra danios
You should avoid overfeeding your zebra danios to prevent constipation and other significant health issues in your fish.
Consider providing the quantity your zebra danios can consume in under two minutes to avoid overfeeding.
In addition, it will be advisable to provide high-quality, nutritious food to your zebra danios for their proper growth and development.
Here are some best food options for your zebra danios
| Zebra Danios Diet | Serving Quantity | No. of times | Advisable for the proper growth of your fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veggie Pellets | One small pinch | 1 time a day | Feed high quality |
| Bloodworms | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED BLOODWORMS |
| Brine Shrimp | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI BRINE SHRIMP CUBES |
| Tubifex Worms | One small pinch | 1 time a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED TUBIFEX WORMS |
| Boiled peas | Half a pea | 2-3 times a week | Feed fresh |
| Blanched Cucumber | One small slice | 3-4 times a week | Feed Fresh |
| Leafy greens (Kale, spinach, lettuce) | A single piece of leaf | 3-4 times a week | Feed fresh |
| Mosquito Larvae | 10-15 | 2-3 times a week | Feed Live |
Also, read: Why Is My Zebra Danios Not Eating?
Provide a stress free environment in the tank
Here are some ways to provide a stress-free environment in your zebra danios tank
- Provide good water conditions in your zebra danios tank.
- Maintain adequate water parameters in your fish tank.
- Provide high-quality food to your zebra danios.
- Pair your zebra danios with peaceful tankmates.
- Avoid overfeeding your zebra danios.
- Ensure to provide ample space in your zebra danios tank.
- Provide lots of hiding spots in your zebra danios tank
The above are the ways to provide a stress-free environment in your zebra danios tank.
Conclusion:
- Numerous reasons like inadequate housing conditions and contaminated water in the tank can make your zebra danios pass away.
- Your zebra danios having white spots, refusing food, or swimming in erratic patterns indicates that your zebra danios are suffering from severe health issues and are about to pass away.
- Poor water conditions, illness, and overfeeding are common reasons behind your zebra danios dying.
- Provide good water conditions, avoid overstocking and maintain adequate water parameters to stop your zebra danios from dying.
- You should always provide a peaceful environment in the tank for the adequate growth and development of your zebra danios.
Reference: NCBI