"Neglected" zebras

[Taratron]

I realized today that my zebras are technically neglected fish. I've read never to keep direct light on them, so they have no light. I do water changes maybe once every two or three weeks. They get fed every few days. And their tank has so many caves and driftwood and hiding spots I see maybe two or three total at the same time.

In other words, do you think I have a tank of mostly dead zebras from this regime?

[MatsP]

In other words, do you think I have a tank of mostly dead zebras from this regime?

I wouldn't have thought so. I would however try to have some mild lighting on the tank - I'm pretty sure it can't be that bad, since that's how they are kept in shops, and in some cases, they are in the shops for quite some time.

--
Mats

[Proteus]

I think they're more of happier fish without the direct light anyways


I'm not sure about the water changes in between length vs your feeding regime as I don't know how big of a tank your tank is vs the number of zebs. I don't think theres anything wrong with that if the ratio per tank is really small and they're not on the thin side.

[Line]

Hi

I think, it's a rather boring way to keep these beautifull fish. For you, I mean.

I gave mine a huge tank, some company from Parotocinclus sp. "recife", Corydoras and tetras. They have all the usual stuff, and plants, light etc.
A nice tank for me and a nice tank for them. Light isn't a problem at all.

As they breed rather successfully and I always have the opportunity to watch them by eating, playing, fighting whatever, I assume, they are doing very well.

Best regards
Line

[Barbie]

You aren't abusing them, but you should definitely do a head count occasionally and see if they are gaining weight or getting ready to spawn so you know whether or not to run them through a rainy season ;).

Barbie

[Neo]

As much as people claim they only come out at night from my own personal experience thats not true, my group are happy and confident to be out hanging around through the day visable well at least 3/4 of them are and quite happily come out when I feed twice a day, no doubt they are active at night also but in my own experience if you have your tank set up with them where they are confident and feel safe with their setup you will see them often and they will not be scared when you feed etc, mine dont even care if my hand is near them when feeding etc now, I have one adult zebra I can pet so to speak and comes right to my hand when feeding frozen brine shimp or whatever

[Taratron]

Well, bad news. I took the tank apart and found 4: 1 of my old ones and 3 of my newer ones. So I lost two of the three I got a year or two ago.

The only consolation is that I have no idea of their age: they were bought pre-ban from a guy who traded them to a cichlid keeper, and he had them for 5-7 years before I ended up with them. The large one left looks to be a male, the other three don't show odos on their cheeks.

Still better I learn this now than later. All right, time to rethink this tank.