What are my white clouds doing?

[darkfalz]

Today I noticed them swimming usually in pairs with their fins fanned out. I haven't seen this behaviour before. Their colours seem more vibrant than usual.

I am worried that they are distressed. I did a 1/3 water change this morning with the last of my water that had rock salt in it, which I have now discarded for "proper" aquarium salt. As far as I know there's no carbon in the filter in this tank, so any kind of additive there might not have been removed. This is the reason I am worried. Other fish are acting as usual.

Anyone know if this is normal behaviour? Maybe they are trying to spawn?

Edit: Here is a picture. They're going around in twos like this, quite fast. Then they go back to normal.

[violet]

White Clouds display to each other. Doesn't mean much. Unless there is a specific reason I see no reason for salt. If the filter has a cartridge it probably has a uselessly small amount of carbon in it. Probably better off to find a hunk of open cell foam to fit in that open space which you can rinse often. Waterchanges to remove pollutants are always beter than trying to remove them chemically (carbon).

White clouds love cool fresh water. Changing 25% of the water daily (NOT a gravel vac) and a larger water change weekly with a gravel vac will have them dancing like that all the time.

[SueM]

Sounds like breeding behavior to me.
Question..... why are you adding salt to your white cloud tanks? Is it medicinal? White clouds don't normally need salt.

[darkfalz]

I put salt in all my tanks at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 10 litres. It's not very much. The heater is set on 20, unheated it would be about 10 degrees in the day and as low as 5 at night, so I think they prefer it at 20. It's almost winter and Canberra winters are pretty cold.

The tank is 40 litres and contains 3 white cloud, 3 Japanese ricefish and 2 leopard danios. They were previously in a 25 litre so I suppose they might be enjoying the extra space and fake plants in there, and the gentle current from the filter.

The sponge is basically black so it might be carbonised, but I put in a carbon pad from a sponge filter just in case. I probably won't need it, but it can't hurt. I can use pretty much any sponge in there anyway when this one is worn out.

I just hadn't seen them doing that before, so it was alarming. If they're just displaying and having fun then that's great.

[darkfalz]

They tend to be chasing each other now instead of schooling. But they are much more aware at meal times and making sure they get food.

Here's a funny picture...