big tiger bully

[myfriendpeter]

i used to only have 2 barbs, 1 tiger and 1 green tiger. a couple days ago i got 3 more, 2 green, and 1 small tiger. before i got the new fish, my tiger barb would not stop harassing my big green tiger barb...its very sad, i just came home from vacation and my green guy has none of the fins hes supposed to have on his underside (no anal or pelvic fins) and is in rough shape for his pectoral fins.

since adding the new fish there hasnt been much abuse, but im just wondering wether i should put him into a temporary hospital tank? or put the mean fish into a separate tank (though the other fish could start being bullies instead).

i really dont want my fishy to die, and im just wondering what you guys would do?

right now hes off on his own side of the tank swimming against the current of the filter...

*this has happened once before, to a lesser degree, and the tiger just stopped being mean and the fins grew back*

 

[David]

As long as he is no longer being abused, he is really better off in the main tank. the stress of moving him to new surroundings can do more harm than good in this situation. Use melafix to speed up the recovery of his fins, and feed live food to aid growth. You should have your old green barb back in no time.

 

[superballs5337]

you should really keep tiger barbs in groups of 6+. 5 or less you will have more aggression.

 

[myfriendpeter]

thanks for the help guys, but when i woke up...poor Thundercleese was stiff as a board.

but today i went and got 2 more fish, so now i have 3 tiger barbs and 3 green tiger barbs, and theyre all getting along great and swimming together, playing amongst themselves. i think ill wait awhile before i get any other type of fish, and hopefully these guys will be settled and not tempted to beat anyone else up.
Its kind of annoying that such a fun species is so violent, but i dont mind the trouble beause they are interesting fish to watch, and keep.

thanks again for the help, even if it was too late