Help! I think I have a bully danio

[holbritter]

I just got 6 zebra danio. One of them is larger than the rest and is chasing the smaller ones.
I thought they were peaceful? Is this "playing" or do I need to remove the largest one?
If I do that, won't the next largest start doing the same?

Thanks!

Oh, and they are the only fish in the tank so far. I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

 

[jm1212]

how long have they been in the tank?

they are probably just settling out the pecking order

 

[holbritter]

3 days. Watching closer, I can see it's not playing. Especially when I feed them!

 

[holbritter]

"they are probably just settling out the pecking order"

Is this what it is? Anyone know for sure, because I'm ready to take that big guy/girl out.

 

[jm1212]

it is the dominance order.

a pecking order is the order that they do everything- who eats first, who gets picked on the most- and more fish means that the most dominant fish's agression is spread out to more fish

 

[webcricket]

In my experience, danios do chase each other a lot. As long as the bully is not nipping fins and causing physical damage, it is totally normal behavior for the species.

 

[corykid]

yep they are just making the pecking order, tho since they are danios and are VERY fast and FULL of energy it probly just seems worse then it really is, don't worry about it everything will settle down soon

 

[holbritter]

I'm glad that's it....I wasn't looking foward to trying and catch that speed demon!!

Thanks