Barbs / Loaches

[Declan]

Hi all,

About 5-6 weeks ago, I decided to get a fish tank, I bought a Juwel Rekord 70.

Around 3-4 weeks ago, I added my first live plants, and about a day or two later I was so desperate to get some fish in, so I said this to my local fish store and they suggested some Barbs, and being a novice, I just said O.K, and bought 4.

2 weeks ago I went to another store and asked for some fish, and they asked for a water sample, which I didnt have, so I went home, got one and went back some water and took it back, the man there said the ammonia levels were far too high. I would just like to say at this point I did have the Barbs.

So I lowered the amount of food I was feeding them, and surely but slowly the ammonia levels came down, until today I tested my water at home, and it was fine.

So I bought some Neon Tetras (x6) and Clown Loaches (x2), I introduced them to my tank over about an hour or so, thinking that my current fish would, almost sort of recognise them when I let them 'swim free'.

Once I released them in, the two of the Barbs instantly, started showing a worrying interest in the Loaches, and I have seem them at times having a 'nibble', although I havent seen anything on the fins of the Loaches yet.

I have got a shelter, in the form of a hollow plastic log.

I was wondering what could I do to stop them doing it?

I was contemplating going to my local fish shop, and asking if they wanted them back, either for free or at cost, and then handing them over, and ending the problem there.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jallen]

Clown loaches grow to ~10 inches, MUCH too big for a 70 litre, sorry.

Take them back, get kuhli loaches or corydoras and then buy 2 more barbs (when in groups of 5 or 6 they focus their aggression on each other, and they can take each others beatings).

I recommend getting the loaches/ corys before adding the 2 more barbs, afterall, the barbs may be fine with the new bottom feeders.

What sort of barbs do you have by the way? My post assumes Tiger Barbs ( http/www.tropicalfishprofiles.com/wp-con...-tiger-barb.jpg )

Before buying any fish, always look them up on the internet. I use wikipedia, they give me all of the information I need.
Obviously, it doesn't have to be kuhli's or corys, you could look around for a bottom feeder of a size more suited to your aquarium and ask us what we think.

 

[dcarmor927]

Welcome to the Forum! I think the barbs are tigers as well...i have 6 of those and 3 clown loaches (i'm waiting for my cycle to finish before i get 2 more) and the tiger barbs never touched the loaches... i would up the number of barbs to 6 or so like Jallen said...also agree with 70 liters not being big enough space. clown loaches grow relatively slow, about an inch a year and unless you plan on getting a nearly 300 L tank in about a year you should rehome them...if you dont have a water test kit, you should invest in one, get the dropper kind, as i have heard the strips are useless...i use API and it works well...did you do a fishless cycle?

 

[Declan]

What is a cycle?

 

[Davo86]

What is a cycle?

a cycle is the thing your supposed to do before adding fish,
As you have added fish your cycle has started, (shown by the high ammonia level)

If your cycled hasn't finished yet, i.e. the tank is still cycling then you will need to rehome the neons as they will not survive through this period, and as you now know your clowns will need rehoming aswell.

Tiger barbs should never be added to a tank first as they will claim the whole tank as their territory and so will be very unforgiving to any new occupants that may enter their tank.

what are your water stats atm? how regularly have you been testing?

below is a link to cycling in more detail, but don't let it get you mind boggled
fishless cycling

 

[Corleone]

What is a cycle?

You need to review this thread ASAP:
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=175355"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=175355[/URL]

A cycle is how you prepare the filter to support a bacterial colony that removes certain types of highly toxic waste from the water that fish produce. An uncycled tank does a few things: Fish are more susceptible to disease, as well as death by ammonia or nitrite poisoning, or asphyxiation caused by nitrite. It also smells bad, but that will pass when the tank is cycled.

There are ways to manage and control a cycle while you already have fish, but it'll take some work on your part to save the fish, and there are no guarantees with fish-in cycling.

 

[Jallen]

Tiger barbs should never be added to a tank first as they will claim the whole tank as their territory and so will be very unforgiving to any new occupants that may enter their tank.

I haven't had that problem.

 

[Declan]

I have looked on google images and I dont think they are tiger barbs, mine seem slimmer and longer.

I will try and upload some pics.

 

[Davo86]

I have looked on google images and I dont think they are tiger barbs, mine seem slimmer and longer.

I will try and upload some pics.

what colour are they?

try googling some of these;

cherry barbs
gold barbs
rosy barbs
ruby barbs
pentazona barb
arulius barb
odessa barb
checker barb

 

[Corleone]

If they're similar color pattern, but slim and long, also look up leporinus, which are another potential monster fish on parity with clown loaches.