My LFS got a huge shipment of Neon and Red Wag swordtails on Monday, and though my heart is set on those blood reds and kois, these guys were looking nice. So I picked up a pair of neons and a female red wag.
Got them acclimated and in the tank around 3pm today, and boy these fish are shy. I don't think 9 cracked out danios were helping the matter. Slowly but surely, the swordtails began to venture out and explore their new home, nibbling at the algae and curiously checking out the other fish.
I noticed mama Neon was the most spooked, always in the back of the tank and quite still. I figured she'd just take her time. In the meantime I'm reading the most regretted fish thread (hilarious and sad stories), and there is a complaint or two about jumping swordtails. I start remembering that the red wag was trying to jump out of the hanging container they were acclimating in. I remember reading other warnings about this, but I heard that about my danios too, and I've never seen them catch any air. Just in case I throw a wash rag on the back corner of the tank, which has about a 2x4" gap.
:thm:
The rest of the top has a gap of MAYBE 0.25" around it. This is at about 12am. The new kids seem to appreciate the darkened corner of the tank. All three are chillin there.
Around 12:20am I look over at the tank, wondering how the new kids are doing. I can see the Red Wag and papa Neon kicking it around the bottom of the tank. I enjoy the way they kind of hover around.
Oh, where's mama? Probably back behind the filter lip, where I saw her earlier.
No.
It's dark, so I go and grab a flashlight from across the room. I peer back into the tank with the little lamp, and still can't find her. I go around all sides of the tank.
Nothing.
I come back around and I see something under my couch. "No way..." I'm thinking.
It was mama Neon, UNDER my couch and a good 4 feet away from the tank.
:swear:
I was literally exclaiming "ohhhhhhhh noooooooo! c'mon girl, you can make it" out loud to myself as I scooped her up (she flipped a little, thankfully) and dropped her back in the tank. I really hope she makes it. She could have been out as long as 20 minutes. She went right back to her spot in the top back, looking ready to try it again.
Now the whole top is covered with a towel until I can make a better cover. I thought I was too cool for school, but...
:headshake2:
Got them acclimated and in the tank around 3pm today, and boy these fish are shy. I don't think 9 cracked out danios were helping the matter. Slowly but surely, the swordtails began to venture out and explore their new home, nibbling at the algae and curiously checking out the other fish.
I noticed mama Neon was the most spooked, always in the back of the tank and quite still. I figured she'd just take her time. In the meantime I'm reading the most regretted fish thread (hilarious and sad stories), and there is a complaint or two about jumping swordtails. I start remembering that the red wag was trying to jump out of the hanging container they were acclimating in. I remember reading other warnings about this, but I heard that about my danios too, and I've never seen them catch any air. Just in case I throw a wash rag on the back corner of the tank, which has about a 2x4" gap.
:thm:
The rest of the top has a gap of MAYBE 0.25" around it. This is at about 12am. The new kids seem to appreciate the darkened corner of the tank. All three are chillin there.
Around 12:20am I look over at the tank, wondering how the new kids are doing. I can see the Red Wag and papa Neon kicking it around the bottom of the tank. I enjoy the way they kind of hover around.
Oh, where's mama? Probably back behind the filter lip, where I saw her earlier.
No.
It's dark, so I go and grab a flashlight from across the room. I peer back into the tank with the little lamp, and still can't find her. I go around all sides of the tank.
Nothing.
I come back around and I see something under my couch. "No way..." I'm thinking.
It was mama Neon, UNDER my couch and a good 4 feet away from the tank.
:swear:
I was literally exclaiming "ohhhhhhhh noooooooo! c'mon girl, you can make it" out loud to myself as I scooped her up (she flipped a little, thankfully) and dropped her back in the tank. I really hope she makes it. She could have been out as long as 20 minutes. She went right back to her spot in the top back, looking ready to try it again.
Now the whole top is covered with a towel until I can make a better cover. I thought I was too cool for school, but...
:headshake2:
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my dragon jumped out a lot!
