fish swimming at the top of the tank

[acskorupski]

I just got a tiger barb and a danio and they are both swimming only at the top of my tank...why??

 

[sthawke1]

what are your water params? also, whats the tank layout?
tiger barbs are schooling fish, and so are danios also.

 

[InR reason]

Hey acs. How long have you had this tank and like the above user asked what are it's demensions?

 

[nursie]

What kind of filter do you have
Water temp?
size of tank
what else is in the tank
how long have you had it
do you test your water and what are the results?
These are a start.

 

[dorkfish]

tiger barbs and danios should be in schools. Do they seem to gasp at the surface for air? If so something is amiss in the aquarium, we would need water test results to tell what it is though.

 

[Ray Pollett]

If the fish are gasping at the top then water parameters are out. If they are swimming in the top 3rd of the tank this is normal for danios, some stay right next to the surface. I do not have Barbs so can not speak about them.

 

[rrkss]

Well based on my experience Tiger Barbs not in a proper school of 6 or more fish will sit in a corner on top of the tank and gasp even in immaculate water conditions.

 

[asincero]

I've noticed my fish do that when the pH drops to dangerous levels. So basically what the other folks are saying: your water parameters are hosed! Get a test kit and see where your pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are at.

I'd also get a kit that tests KH too ... low KH = wild pH swings. One time when I checked my pH and saw that it was really low, I checked the KH just for the heck of it and noticed it was like at 1 dH. No wonder the pH dropped so quickly, 'eh?