Bullying Golden Barbs

[scooterchick]

Hi,

2 of my small male mollies (I have 6, the 2 smallest are male) have taken to hiding in the tank, one of them had a ripped fin one day and since then he just hides under a log except feeding time. I assumed perhaps he was fighting with other mollies but after observing feeding time, I think it's the golden barbs that are bullying them. Is this common from barbs? I plan on separating them anyway, but I'll do it sooner if need be! I thought golden barbs were quite peaceful, my 2 mollies are quivering wrecks!!

 

[Lateral Line]

I have always found Golden Barbs to be perfectly peaceful.

 

[JDonner]

I have always found Golden Barbs to be perfectly peaceful.

I have the same experience. I have 5 in one of my 10 gallon tanks and they get along with the other fish very well, I find them VERY peaceful. Actaully I think it's one of the most underestimated freshwater fish available; they're peaceful, colorful, playful and pretty smart too. Just make sure you keep them in groups of least 5 fish.

 

[nmonks]

Golden barbs are peaceful. But as the others have suggested, if you aren't keeping enough of them, they might misbehave. This isn't their fault... it's yours. All barbs should be kept in groups of at least 6, with the exception of the territorial species like cherry barbs.

Anyway, as for the mollies, mollies do fight. When kept in freshwater (rather than brackish water) they are also exceedingly likely to come down with fungus and finrot. So small nips between individuals can rapidly become major problems.

I personally wouldn't mix mollies and golden barbs for two reasons: firstly, you want your mollies in brackish water (it's just so much easier) and secondly golden barbs are subtropical fish and do best when kept slightly cooler (around 20 C) than true tropical fish (which prefer 25 C). If you want to keep golden barbs, my recommendation is set up a subtropical tank just for them. I have an article all about this in the current (August 2007) issue of TFH magazine. There are lots of subtropical fishes in the hobby including various species of barbs, tetras, loaches, even Corydoras catfish.

One last thing: two species are sold as golden barbs: Puntius semifasciolatus and Puntius gelius. The latter is sometimes called the "dwarf" golden barb.

Cheers, Neale

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

i have had no experience with golden barbs but my friend has. He had 3 in his tank a few months back and they terrorised his tank so much he took 2 of them back to the lfs, now his one just stays in hiding all of the time.

hope this has helped

 

[nmonks]

But seriously, who keeps three barbs? That's asking for trouble. Read anything on barbs and it will say keep in groups of six or more. Not every barb is a nipper or aggressive, but those that are become troublesome usually when kept in small groups. I happen to have inherited two danios, and all they do is fight and terrorise the cardinals they live with. Archerfish are famous for beating their tankmates into submission unless kept in a big school. It's really very common with schooling fish to get aberrant behaviour if they aren't kept in sufficient numbers.

Cheers, Neale

i have had no experience with golden barbs but my friend has. He had 3 in his tank a few months back and they terrorised his tank so much he took 2 of them back to the lfs, now his one just stays in hiding all of the time.

hope this has helped

 

[JDonner]

But seriously, who keeps three barbs? That's asking for trouble. Read anything on barbs and it will say keep in groups of six or more. Not every barb is a nipper or aggressive, but those that are become troublesome usually when kept in small groups.

Exactly and the agression of a small group is also multiplied if they're in a small tank or have to share the tank with too many other fish. Golden Barbs are super peaceful and anyone who says that they're aggresive need to have a good look at his tank.