Airstone and fish behaviour!

[Mulla]

Hi all,

On my initial tank setup I've always had an airstone going, making bubbles and a bit of movement at the surface. Fish seemed to swim around at a faster pace. Darting here and there and generally not stoping at one spot for any length of time unless it's dark and they're sleeping.

Ever since I started planting 3 weeks ago, I switched the airstone off. I've noticed that fishes are swimming around in a more relaxed manner. Stopping (just floating around) and swimming more slowly, unless chasing each other around.

Is this normal behaviour? Is it because of reduced oxygen levels? They're not gasping for air at the surface at all so I would imagine oxygen levels should be fine.

Any ideas???


Thanks.

[OrionGirl]

Depends on the fish--it could be that when they were new, they weren't relaxed, so constantly moved, but are now used to the tank--nothing to do with the airstone. Could be that the constant noise made them jumpy (sounded like a predator, maybe?). Depends on the fish what their normal behavior is, so without knowing that, it's hard to even guess.

I doubt it's a problem though--fish usually do better with plants, IME.

[Mulla]

OrionGirl: Well the fishes are Penguin Tetras, Lace-3Spot-Kissing Gouramis, Pictus Cat, Upsidedown Cat, Guppy. I just though it's the waves that makes them jumpy since they have to fight it to swim around (although it's only very small waves).

Oh well I guess I perfer slow swimming fishes since I can observe them better.

This always gives me the impressions that plants can make the fishes more relaxed. :cool: