Depressed fishy

[fishyinpa]

So as some of you may know, I had to take out one of my girls from the 38. She got beat up pretty badly by the new girls. I got her a 2.5 gallon set up in my bathroom. Well the poor girl is depressed. One,being in a much smaller tank and two being away from other fish. She doesn't swim around very much. Just stays up top or down bottom. Not even sure if she is eating. I do not know what to do for her. Put her back in and hope they dont kill her? Or figure out where to set up another tank (10 gallon) and get her new friends?? Problem is I have no clue where I would put another tank. I was considering putting her in one of my other tanks,but most are almost fully stocked. So i would not be able to add anymore to it after her. BAH. What yall think???

[dramaqueen]

If you put her back in, try rearranging the tank, then adding them all in at the same time, as if you were just starting the sorority. Then they'll reestablish the pecking order. Hopefully things will work out better.

[doggyhog]

If you have a breeder's trap, preferably clear colored, put her in that in the 38g for a week or two. The other girls will get used to her that way and they won't feel like she is as much of an intruder once she gets added. Expect them to flare a lot at first.

[fishyinpa]

Thanks DQ and Doggyhog!! I like that idea of the trap. I got one at my lfs,not very big but better than nothing. Hope she perks up seeing her friends.

Oops I got a specimen container not a breeder trap bah. Does that matter?

[fishyinpa]

haha looks like its fine. oh and wow what a difference!! I do believe this proves that fish do indeed have feelings. I put her in the container,hanging off the side. After maybe 10 minutes of wondering where the frick she is,she realizes its her old tank. She sees her friends. She is swimming around now! No more depressed fishy. YAY.

[doggyhog]

Yay!!!!! So glad for you! A specimen container works just fine. :)

Good luck!

[beta novice]

good luck