View Full Version : Glo-fish?
Bonne46
10-04-2009, 3:42 PM
Hey everyone, I was at Petsmart today to get some products for the cats and I was walking by the fish just to glance and I notice these very bright and colorful fish call Glo-fish. I was wondering if anyone knew how many you could keep in a 10g tank? Also is care hard on them?
excuzzzeme
10-04-2009, 3:58 PM
They are Danios with a man-made gene mutated modification. Not anything special. Most serious hobbyists won't buy them or support the gene manipulation.
Bonne46
10-04-2009, 4:01 PM
Oh wow I never knew that. How many could fit in a 10g?
TechAquaria
10-04-2009, 4:13 PM
Oh wow I never knew that. How many could fit in a 10g?
I live in California; I support gene modification! (just not with "stuff" in my food supply!--well, at this point, I don't wanna be genetically modified either!)
How many you can fit in a tank depends on the size the adults will be, some say 1 inch of fish per gallon--all my tanks exceed that. However, I have excellent filtration, air, plants, water quality, UV, biological filters, etc.
I think those fish will light-up under a blacklight (the glofish), if not, some have been pulling my leg--knowing how bad that makes me want 'em!
If I don't run into someone, on the QT, selling them, or a friend to trade with me, I am going over to Nevada and snag a few! The LFS here got "busted" by the "holistic types" finding out he had them in the back room, and was selling them to favorite clients. I found out about that when I asked him about them (he showed me the newspaper clipping.) I am used to that, happens frequently here in the Land-of-the-Loonies (i.e., California.)
Regards,
TA
vampie
10-04-2009, 4:16 PM
I personally wouldn't keep them in less than a 20-long.
TechAquaria
10-04-2009, 4:22 PM
I personally wouldn't keep them in less than a 20-long.
Bet in the future, I end up breeding them in a ten short! LOL
JK ...
Regards,
TA
Bonne46
10-04-2009, 4:26 PM
So a 20 long would be best for it?
TechAquaria
10-04-2009, 4:42 PM
So a 20 long would be best for it?
Well, YEAH!
Instead of ten one inch fish, you can now have 20! (crud, I'd probably have about 40 in there! During rush hour "fish traffic" (feeding time actually), they'd have a hard time negotiating the plants! <grin>)
Regards,
TA
Bonne46
10-04-2009, 4:45 PM
I just have a 10g laying around so I figured I would start that up and stock them in there.
blue2fyre
10-04-2009, 5:05 PM
They stay small but are pretty active. That's why most recommend at least a 20 gallon for them. Also don't follow the 1 inch of fish per gallon rule. It's very incorrect. Since glofish are a schooling fish get at least 6 so they are nice and happy. I'm a "serious aquariest" and I see nothing wrong with having glofish. They are colorful, active and they weren't hurt at all when they were created. It's not like they are a dyed fish that has been through a painful experience. Just my opinion.
Bonne46
10-04-2009, 5:17 PM
Ok so get 6 fish for a 20g?
TechAquaria
10-04-2009, 5:54 PM
Ok so get 6 fish for a 20g?
"Houston, we have ignition ..." <said-in-an-astronauts-voice>
Regards,
TA
blue2fyre
10-04-2009, 5:57 PM
You could probably get a few more. Honestly I'm not that great at figuring out how to stock most community tanks.
Reframer
10-04-2009, 7:04 PM
Around 8 would be a nice school, IMO they are not as robust as regular Danios though. They are small but hyper so need a 20 so they have room to play.
i say (for a 20gal) get 6 ( 2 of each color) then get a couple regular zebra danios... you know, just fer the variation. and if ya got black gravel or sand, some albino corys :D
bluekrissyspike
10-04-2009, 7:44 PM
get at least six. they are illegal in canada or i'd probably have some of each type breeding.
Interesting! never seen them in any of my LFS's.
The 1inch per gal is just a ball point to work around, its not an exact science :P most people know you have to factor in the individual fishes qualities as well before throwing em in a tank.
Id say go for 6'ish in the 10gal. if theres not much else in the tank maybe edge towards 8-10
Regarding breeding of them...
They're are technically treated as intellectual property- it's actually illegal to "intentionally" breed them.
Now, that said, who will know if you do it intentionally or not? I think they're out to stop people doing it en-masse. If you stick Danios in a tank- they're going to breed. I constantly see spawning behaviour in my tank... although, not seen any baby fish yet... presumedly the eggs get eaten by snails, shrimp and fish.
Also, the genes arn't quite "man-made"- they were taken from other organisms- and man stuck them in the danio... I think the original glo-fish had genes from Jellyfish inserted into the DNA of their fertilised eggs to make the current Glo-fish.
Ethically- it may be a gray area... I can definately see both sides.
I have a few in my Danio school- mainly because my wife liked them... although I've come to appreciate them as pretty fish.
Personally though, I think some of the regular morphs are more attractive... The Zebra, Ocelott, Leopard, Golden... etc...
Danios come in so many colours naturally- most of which are superior in appearance to Glo-Fish... (in my opinion).
tekonus
10-05-2009, 8:26 AM
I'd say if the tank is just them you could probably have 6-8 of them in a 10g. The reason people say a 20long is because they are very active and like a lot of swim area. They definetly will feel a little cramped in a 10g.
They don't seem to like heavily planted areas either...
My Danios spend most of their time in open space- they don't usually venture into the planted areas... except for when spawning- they like to tangle themselves up in Java Moss.
I've got a 55 gallon- about half is densely planted with plants reaching the surface- they completely ignore this area for the most part.
KarlTh
10-05-2009, 9:45 AM
1" per gallon is not even a starting point. To work, it requires that biomass increases with length - that a 1" fish weighs half as much as a 2" fish of the same shape. It doesn't; it weighs only 1/8th as much.
TechAquaria
10-05-2009, 10:57 AM
1" per gallon is not even a starting point. To work, it requires that biomass increases with length - that a 1" fish weighs half as much as a 2" fish of the same shape. It doesn't; it weighs only 1/8th as much.
Yeah, can you imagine a 10 inch Pacu in a 10 gallon tank? Two five inch? Or, three 3.333 inch ones?
Regards,
TA
coach_z
10-05-2009, 11:05 AM
i would go 6 in a 10 gallon tank and they will be the only inhabitants of that tank...with limited large decorations...few plants here and there and a piece of drift wood, cave or some sort of decoration that they might be able to hide in/around.
the limited decorations will take up less space in your tank and allow you to have more room for them to swim.
Bonne46
10-05-2009, 12:04 PM
I don't have anything else in the 10g tank. My plan was since I never seen these fish was to buy some and house in the 10g tank then when spring comes I can move them into my 37g long tank with other fish. I have to wait till spring to transfer because I have a turtle in there now that would eat them.
So would a 10g be ok for now or will that cause alot of stress on them that will lead to death? Since there's nothing else in the 10g should I stick with 6 still?
blue2fyre
10-05-2009, 12:06 PM
I think it'll be fine. Danios are tough fish I would expect the same from glofish.
Bonne46
10-05-2009, 7:59 PM
Ok cool, do they need a special light?
blue2fyre
10-05-2009, 8:16 PM
nah a regular light will be just fine.
depends if you want them to "glow"
Reframer
10-05-2009, 8:50 PM
It depends though, I had 6 in a 10 gallon before and all they did is fight and fin nip like crazy. Never had any problems once they went into the 55.
jpappy789
10-05-2009, 8:55 PM
In my honest opinion, they will feel cramped in the 10. They are just far too active.
Bonne46
10-06-2009, 11:41 AM
Even a 10g tank with nothing in it besides 1 or 2 hiding spots will be to small for 6 till spring?
Wycco
10-06-2009, 12:02 PM
Until spring may not sound like a long time to you- but Danios arn't long lived compared to other aquarium fish... 6 months is probably about 15% of their natural life! (although that natural life may abbreviated if they are stressed such as being in a small aquarium) - why not just wait until Spring to get them?
I can understand if they were a rare fish... but I can't think of many tropical fish that are easier to find than Glo-Fish... everyone sells them... you'll still be able to buy them in the spring.
tekonus
10-06-2009, 12:04 PM
Even a 10g tank with nothing in it besides 1 or 2 hiding spots will be to small for 6 till spring?
As far as bioload goes? It would be plenty fine. The do like open space to swim, and they will feel cramped. I don't see why it would kill them, however. As long as it is temporary and the tank is taken care of properly I'm sure it would be fine. The tanks I see them kept in at the LFS's in my area look to be ~10g, and they do fine.
Bonne46
10-06-2009, 12:39 PM
Wyco- very true I can wait and may just do that, I just never seen them at petsmart before or any lfs by me.
Wycco
10-06-2009, 12:43 PM
Surprised you have difficulty finding them- everywhere I look has them... even Walmart (not that I'd buy from Walmart).
You could always ask if they plan on keeping them in stock- I know from talking to a Petsmart employee here that they get more fish in starting in autumn through until Xmas than they carry the rest of the year...
... maybe they're starting to carry their Xmas stock extra early and your store doesn't normally carry them... dunno- but I know they're in Walmart, SuperPetz, Both Petsmarts, and the LFS in my town... maybe their availability just varies region to region... dunno.
Eupterus
10-06-2009, 1:22 PM
Around here, almost every time I walk into either of the two LFS, they have glo fish./
Bonne46
10-06-2009, 1:47 PM
I'll have to ask petsmart if they'll be getting more in throughout the year as well as I'll see if anything if one of my lfs can order them for me if petsmart doesn't have them during spring.
tekonus
10-06-2009, 4:42 PM
Aren't they illegal in some states? California comes to mind for some reason.
vampie
10-06-2009, 4:48 PM
Yep, illegal in Cali because they're a GM fish.
They're pretty common here in NY, seems like every other store sells them.
Eupterus
10-06-2009, 4:52 PM
As far as I know, CA is the only US state where glofish are illegal.
I wish they'd ban dyed fish instead:(.
tekonus
10-06-2009, 4:56 PM
As far as I know, CA is the only US state where glofish are illegal.
I wish they'd ban dyed fish instead:(.
Yeah, I walked into Petco today to check out their selection of powerheads to compare prices, browsed by the tanks and saw a tank full of tiger barbs, and right next to it a tank with the label "Tiger Molly". It was a white molly with tattooed red stripes on it.
:barf:I threw up in my mouth a little bit.