Barbs Harrassing Opaline

[Squid31]

Hello everyone,
 
Well I have a couple questions, my 7 tiger barbs seem to only be together for short times otherwise there about the 40 gallon tank on there own. They're juevnilles around and inch. I have a new opaline gourami a day old in the tank, about 2 inches and when he swims around one of the tigers will see him and begin to try to nip and chase him, and once the other barbs see that they all chase him. The gourami is always looking to hide and doesn't really retaliate, and he stays away from the top and other open waters where I feel they normally are. Is there anything I could do to relieve some stress he may have from the switch and these guys chasing him? All input is appreciated, thanks for your time reading!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Tigers can be really annoying like this...  Sorry to tell you that keeping tigers has this risk.

 

[Squid31]

Tigers can be really annoying like this...  Sorry to tell you that keeping tigers has this risk.

Yea it is a bit annoying, but if the gourami didn't run they wouldn't chase him, once he takes off then the chase him. I thought he would stand some ground at least.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Being new to the tank, the new fish is going to be more timid.  And tigers have a 'wolfpack' ability and can intimidate much larger fish, especially more peaceful fish.

 

[Squid31]

Being new to the tank, the new fish is going to be more timid.  And tigers have a 'wolfpack' ability and can intimidate much larger fish, especially more peaceful fish.

yea I figured that I'll let him settle and see if it changes. Do you have any guess on how long it may take him to settle in the tank? Hes only been in there for a day so far.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Its possible that it won't settle in with the tigers... I'd suggest rearranging the decor a bit to change things up on the tigers to hgive them less comfort in the tank themselves right now.
 
Put them on more even ground...

 

[Squid31]

Its possible that it won't settle in with the tigers... I'd suggest rearranging the decor a bit to change things up on the tigers to hgive them less comfort in the tank themselves right now.
 
Put them on more even ground...

okay thanks for the advice! and I did change the tank around today figuring it would make it new for all of them. So ill see if it works

 

[ncguppy830]

yea tiger are advid finnippers is your fish ok

 

[Chad]

That's not a pairing I recommend. It's one of those things. When I read the title of your thread, "Barbs Harassing Opaline" the first thought that popped into my head just spontaneously was, "Yes." Because that's really the behavior I would expect. I've had that experience myself. In my case it was gold barbs and a powder blue gourami but the result was the same, I had to move the gourami to another tank.

 

[DreamertK]

  Bad fish owner, bad. Barbs = fin nippers. Gourami = slow moving fish with LONG FLOWING FINS.
 
Really the only barbs that can be kept with gourami can be cherries.

 

[Squid31]

I have 7 barbs and after watching it its clearly only 2 of the barbs that do the chasing, the other 5 never bother him. The smallest barb which is female and the male regular one. The 2 male green tiger barbs and 4 female normal tigers never bother it. The Red Tailed Shark I notice chases one of the barbs if they go after the gourami like a body guard. The Gourami is brightly colored and doesn't seem to be two stressed. Should I see how it continues? Could I replace the 2 barbs that bother the gourami?

 

[Chad]

The shark is saving the gourami for itself later.
 
Honestly, I would rehome the gourami. As the shark and the tigers grow they will get even more aggressive and territorial.

 

[Squid31]

The shark is saving the gourami for itself later.

 
Honestly, I would rehome the gourami. As the shark and the tigers grow they will get even more aggressive and territorial.

Okay, I just read that the opaline was a semi-aggressive fish and would stand up to them a bit. When he turns towards them they never bother him they have to get behind him. Is there any other Gourami you recommend that could be in the tank? 40 gallon tank

 

[Chad]

No. I don't recommend tigers (and most other barbs) and gourami together. I speak from experience. Even if it seems to work for a while as the fish mature their temperament changes to an even more aggressive stance.

 

[Squid31]

No. I don't recommend tigers (and most other barbs) and gourami together. I speak from experience. Even if it seems to work for a while as the fish mature their temperament changes to an even more aggressive stance.

Okay Thank you, one more question, what other centerpiece type fish would go good then with these fish?