Zebra Danios

[jts112278]

Does anyone know how a school of Zebras will react to 5 or 6 tigar barbs in a 29 gal tank? I realize that i wont be able to get the long fin variety but i thought a nice school would add a new dimention to my tank. Let me know what you think!

 

[Matt Nace]

It would work fine.
I found with the long finned zebras, that they bite each other, the tiger wouldn't be the culprits.

 

[jts112278]

Thanks. I picked a few up last night. We will see how they do and then i will start my school if everything goes good. On a completely unrelated topic i saw some crayfish in my lfs. I have already had a bad experince with red claw crabs (found one in my kitchen and another in my roomates shoe!) Will these crayfish satisfly my need for crawly things in my tank and not end up on my floor? Thanks

 

[colesea]

They quite possibly could satisfy your need for crawlie things, but the crayfish might satisfy their need for fishie things by eating their swimming tankmates.

Most people who keep crayfish in their tank recommend thatyou take the big pinscer claws off them if they're to be housed with fish.

Also you would want to make sure to pulg up any way out of your tank. While crayfish do not need to breath air the way the crabs do, they are adept at climbing on things, so they might get curious and decide to invesitgate how to get out.

~~Colesea

 

[Matt Nace]

There are differnt kinds of crayfish. Make sure you get the one that will fit the temperature of the tank. Some are cold water, some are warm water.

I also had a crab like you mentioned. I had to crab proof the tank, so there was not even a small opening. He ended up living in my whisper filter. He got too big , so he was returned.

 

[jts112278]

Thanks for all the great advice. How do i go about removing the large claws of the crayfish humanly?

 

[equinom]

I lost multiple fish to my crayfish.  Actually caught him sawing through my blue gourami.  I took the advice of several people on the board and removed part of the large claws.  (I took off the "thumbs&quot  I'm am quite sure it didn't feel good - I don't think there is a gentle way to cut off part of a claw.   ???

Losing his thumbs didn't appear to bother him.  He ate his shrimp pellets just fine - he even molted several times after his claw removal, and had started regrowing the claws.  He still climbed the plants and tried to catch fish! He continued to charge out of his log and wave his claws whenever someone approached the tank.  

Alas, the little crawdad passed away.  I believe it happened after the temperature jumped due to the weather.  But he was a hoot.  

 

[jts112278]

Update!!!:
We are on day three of the crayfish investation. So far I have had no casualties(thank God). Also these little critters are the coolest! they are very entertaining. Also the Danios have worked out very nicley.