New SAE: Is this normal?

[Martin]

I bought a new SAE today. Since I introdiced him into the aquarium almost 9
hours ago, he has been restless. He swims up and down the glass aquarium
walls completely ignoring any flake food and black brush algae on my bacopa
(reason I got him). The other fish in the aquarium are perfectly healthy.
Temp = 77F, PH = 7.2, GH = 8, KH = 6, Ammo = 0, Nitrite = 0 What's with him?

Marty

[LeighMo]

>I bought a new SAE today. Since I introdiced him into the aquarium almost 9
>hours ago, he has been restless. He swims up and down the glass aquarium
>walls completely ignoring any flake food and black brush algae on my bacopa
>(reason I got him).

They are very active fish. Mine do that "swiming up and down the walls" thing,
too.

Ignoring flake food isn't normal, but you just put him in the tank. Give him
time to adjust.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

[Martin]

Thanks Leigh. It looks like you're right - It was just an adjustment
period. He did indeed start eating flake food this morning. I'm glad to
know racing up and down the glass is normal. Thanks again!

Martin


"Martin" > wrote in message
...
> I bought a new SAE today. Since I introdiced him into the aquarium almost
9
> hours ago, he has been restless. He swims up and down the glass aquarium
> walls completely ignoring any flake food and black brush algae on my
bacopa
> (reason I got him). The other fish in the aquarium are perfectly
healthy.
> Temp = 77F, PH = 7.2, GH = 8, KH = 6, Ammo = 0, Nitrite = 0 What's with
him?
>
> Marty
>
>

[Mike Noren]

"Martin" > wrote in message >...
> I bought a new SAE today. Since I introdiced him into the aquarium almost 9
> hours ago, he has been restless. He swims up and down the glass aquarium
> walls completely ignoring any flake food and black brush algae on my bacopa
> (reason I got him).

Yeah, neurotic hyperactivity seems quite common with SAE's, although
they mellow a bit with age. He'll not ignore the flake food for long,
although he may or may not continue to ignore the algae - they much
prefer fishfood to algae.

Also be warned that they're likely to jump. With SAE's, unless you
have tight-fitting cover glass it's not a question of if, but of when,
you find him on the carpet.

[Dinky]

"Mike Noren" > wrote in message
>
> Also be warned that they're likely to jump. With SAE's, unless you
> have tight-fitting cover glass it's not a question of if, but of when,
> you find him on the carpet.

Oddly enough, just a couple weeks ago, I commented that the 4 adult SAE in
my open-top planted 45 had never displayed an inclination to jump, and I've
had them for over a year. In the last week, I've found on one the floor, and
one on the rim of the tank. Needless to say, I'm now a believer, and the
tank has a temporary lid while I try to find something that will allow light
through, keep fish in, but not keep heat in. Any ideas?

billy

[LeighMo]

>Needless to say, I'm now a believer, and the
>tank has a temporary lid while I try to find something that will allow light
>through, keep fish in, but not keep heat in. Any ideas?

Window screen? They make those screen tops for aquariums (for reptile
keepers). They're not terrible attractive, but they would keep critters in the
tank.

It might also help to lower the water level and have more floating plants in
the tank. I've found fish jump less when there are a lot of floating plants.
I've had a couple of fish jump out recently, and I think it's because I got rid
of most of the duckweed in my tanks. Never thought I'd miss duckweed....



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/