Silly Rasboras!

[Liz McGuire]

So, every now and then I need to top off the water in my tank (which
has rasboras, neons and otos). As it's just a 10g, I do this with a
cup. And my silly little rasboras love being where the water is
poured in! As I don't want to "hit" them with the water, I have to
pour a little bit slowly on one side, then when they all come over, I
quickly pour some into the other and they come rushing, so it's back
to the other side for a slow pour and then back to the other for a
quick dump before they get there! :laugh:

At first I thought this was just a fluke, but this happens every time
I top off the water. And then there's the fact that sometimes I use a
canister filter to "polish" the water a bit, and when I first start it
up, I slowly increase the flow (the fish all scatter when I put the
intake tube in, so they're far enough away for the current not to
bother them (and I watch to be sure they're not close and I aim the
output at the glass to help reduce it)). Anyway, once the filter's
going, I reduce the flow to something I'm not worried about, but those
silly rasboras will come up before I get the output slowed down and
get closer and closer, swimming in the current - they love it - they
wait there for me to turn it up (a little) and just swim their little
hearts out, getting as close as they dare to the output! It's like
they're surfing or something. Sometimes it's like they're playing a
game - who can touch the output tube, or who can escape the input!
:laugh:

Just wanted to share the story of my silly surfing rasboras!

Liz

[Dick]

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 21:37:41 -0700, Liz McGuire
> wrote:

>So, every now and then I need to top off the water in my tank (which
>has rasboras, neons and otos). As it's just a 10g, I do this with a
>cup. And my silly little rasboras love being where the water is
>poured in! As I don't want to "hit" them with the water, I have to
>pour a little bit slowly on one side, then when they all come over, I
>quickly pour some into the other and they come rushing, so it's back
>to the other side for a slow pour and then back to the other for a
>quick dump before they get there! :laugh:
>
>At first I thought this was just a fluke, but this happens every time
>I top off the water. And then there's the fact that sometimes I use a
>canister filter to "polish" the water a bit, and when I first start it
>up, I slowly increase the flow (the fish all scatter when I put the
>intake tube in, so they're far enough away for the current not to
>bother them (and I watch to be sure they're not close and I aim the
>output at the glass to help reduce it)). Anyway, once the filter's
>going, I reduce the flow to something I'm not worried about, but those
>silly rasboras will come up before I get the output slowed down and
>get closer and closer, swimming in the current - they love it - they
>wait there for me to turn it up (a little) and just swim their little
>hearts out, getting as close as they dare to the output! It's like
>they're surfing or something. Sometimes it's like they're playing a
>game - who can touch the output tube, or who can escape the input!
>:laugh:
>
>Just wanted to share the story of my silly surfing rasboras!
>
>Liz


I enjoyed the story, but am puzzled with the early comment of not
wanting to "hit" them with the water. Why not let the water hit them,
especially if they like it? Or, was this just a way to let us know
part of the game?

I replace 2 gallons of my 10 gallon tanks with a 2 gallon bucket. I
adjust for temperature at the tap by how it feels on my hand. I
usually get it right, but I start adding water near the themometer
probe to get an idea if I got it wrong. Once I have confidence that
the water temp is close, I dump the rest so as to stir up debris so
the filter can remove some of it.

I hope your Rasboras continue their antics, such behavior is fun for
sure.

dick

[Justice]

Liz McGuire wrote:
> So, every now and then I need to top off the water in my tank (which
> has rasboras, neons and otos). As it's just a 10g, I do this with a
> cup. And my silly little rasboras love being where the water is
> poured in! As I don't want to "hit" them with the water, I have to
> pour a little bit slowly on one side, then when they all come over, I
> quickly pour some into the other and they come rushing, so it's back
> to the other side for a slow pour and then back to the other for a
> quick dump before they get there! :laugh:
>
> At first I thought this was just a fluke, but this happens every time
> I top off the water. And then there's the fact that sometimes I use a
> canister filter to "polish" the water a bit, and when I first start it
> up, I slowly increase the flow (the fish all scatter when I put the
> intake tube in, so they're far enough away for the current not to
> bother them (and I watch to be sure they're not close and I aim the
> output at the glass to help reduce it)). Anyway, once the filter's
> going, I reduce the flow to something I'm not worried about, but those
> silly rasboras will come up before I get the output slowed down and
> get closer and closer, swimming in the current - they love it - they
> wait there for me to turn it up (a little) and just swim their little
> hearts out, getting as close as they dare to the output! It's like
> they're surfing or something. Sometimes it's like they're playing a
> game - who can touch the output tube, or who can escape the input!
> :laugh:
>
> Just wanted to share the story of my silly surfing rasboras!
>
> Liz
I get the same thing with my glowlight tetras. they swim right into the
pouring water. At fist I did what you do slowly but now I just pour.
They seem to like it when i surprise them and pour the water right on
there little school. At first one might get caught off guard and the
water wakes him/her do a barrel roll then they dart right into the
streem. Although my Clown Loaches don't like the water changes they run
and hide as soon as the vac goes into the tank. and don't come out 'till
the tetras have stoped playing in the current. So just give them the
water full force they will probably do the same.

[Liz McGuire]

Dick,

I've read about fish getting injured by dumping water into a tank (the
description of their behavior afterwards is like swim-bladder
disease). Maybe what I've read is a misdiagnosis kinda thing, and I
don't know how hard it would have to be to injure them, but I'd rather
not find out :-) Anyway, the back-and-forth part of me trying to
avoid them and them rushing over to where the water is coming in now
is pretty funny (my husband was busting up watching it).

I do let them swim in the output from the canister filter for a while
- as they're the one's coming to it and it's a constant flow, I don't
worry about it as much. I bet the neons think they're nuts! <g>

Liz


Dick wrote:
>
> I enjoyed the story, but am puzzled with the early comment of not
> wanting to "hit" them with the water. Why not let the water hit them,
> especially if they like it? Or, was this just a way to let us know
> part of the game?

[Dick]

I am constantly amazed how we are all doing the same thing, enjoying
the presence of fish in our lives, and yet, each of us has a different
experience and each of us finds routines comfortable for us.

Since you are uncomfortable with pouring the water in too fast, then I
would do it the manner you are comfortable with. Having others
comment only offers an alternative, but not a better way. "Better" is
your choice.

When I read comments by those that know every measurable aspect of
their water quality, I wonder, "Why bother?" But the answer is,
"They are comfortable" with their methods. When I share my
alternative I never expect those people to do it my way. They are
comfortable with their way, but we do get newbies that may fear they
are doing bad things to their fish if they don't become chemists. I
like to think I am offering assurance there is an alternative.

Eventually the newbies will offer their own alternatives.

dick

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:38:52 -0700, Liz McGuire
> wrote:

>Dick,
>
>I've read about fish getting injured by dumping water into a tank (the
>description of their behavior afterwards is like swim-bladder
>disease). Maybe what I've read is a misdiagnosis kinda thing, and I
>don't know how hard it would have to be to injure them, but I'd rather
>not find out :-) Anyway, the back-and-forth part of me trying to
>avoid them and them rushing over to where the water is coming in now
>is pretty funny (my husband was busting up watching it).
>
>I do let them swim in the output from the canister filter for a while
>- as they're the one's coming to it and it's a constant flow, I don't
>worry about it as much. I bet the neons think they're nuts! <g>
>
>Liz
>
>
>Dick wrote:
>>
>> I enjoyed the story, but am puzzled with the early comment of not
>> wanting to "hit" them with the water. Why not let the water hit them,
>> especially if they like it? Or, was this just a way to let us know
>> part of the game?

[Liz McGuire]

:-)

Yes, like in so many things, there are many ways that work, all of
them equally good. For something like fish-keeping (as opposed to,
say, painting), that can be difficult for a beginner (as you want some
concrete "knowledge" so you're sure you're not hurting the poor
fishies). I'm finding now that aquarium plants are even more
difficult - there are so many variables that it's nearly impossible
for anyone to give you any specific advice - instead you *have* to
experiment and see what works for you.

Anywho, I appreciate your comments and those of everyone on the
group. I hope we all continue to have many "silly" stories to tell
about our fishies.

Liz


Dick wrote:
>
> I am constantly amazed how we are all doing the same thing, enjoying
> the presence of fish in our lives, and yet, each of us has a different
> experience and each of us finds routines comfortable for us.
>
> Since you are uncomfortable with pouring the water in too fast, then I
> would do it the manner you are comfortable with. Having others
> comment only offers an alternative, but not a better way. "Better" is
> your choice.
>
> When I read comments by those that know every measurable aspect of
> their water quality, I wonder, "Why bother?" But the answer is,
> "They are comfortable" with their methods. When I share my
> alternative I never expect those people to do it my way. They are
> comfortable with their way, but we do get newbies that may fear they
> are doing bad things to their fish if they don't become chemists. I
> like to think I am offering assurance there is an alternative.
>
> Eventually the newbies will offer their own alternatives.
>
> dick
>

[Liz McGuire]

:-)

Yes, like in so many things, there are many ways that work, all of
them equally good. For something like fish-keeping (as opposed to,
say, painting), that can be difficult for a beginner (as you want some
concrete "knowledge" so you're sure you're not hurting the poor
fishies). I'm finding now that aquarium plants are even more
difficult - there are so many variables that it's nearly impossible
for anyone to give you any specific advice - instead you *have* to
experiment and see what works for you.

Anywho, I appreciate your comments and those of everyone on the
group. I hope we all continue to have many "silly" stories to tell
about our fishies.

Liz


Dick wrote:
>
> I am constantly amazed how we are all doing the same thing, enjoying
> the presence of fish in our lives, and yet, each of us has a different
> experience and each of us finds routines comfortable for us.
>
> Since you are uncomfortable with pouring the water in too fast, then I
> would do it the manner you are comfortable with. Having others
> comment only offers an alternative, but not a better way. "Better" is
> your choice.
>
> When I read comments by those that know every measurable aspect of
> their water quality, I wonder, "Why bother?" But the answer is,
> "They are comfortable" with their methods. When I share my
> alternative I never expect those people to do it my way. They are
> comfortable with their way, but we do get newbies that may fear they
> are doing bad things to their fish if they don't become chemists. I
> like to think I am offering assurance there is an alternative.
>
> Eventually the newbies will offer their own alternatives.
>
> dick
>