getting REALLY concerned about tiger barbs

[drunkenmonkey]

This is my second tiger barb death in a few weeks There are 6 left. My mom found him around 5:30pm today, and i had just changed the water 2 1/2hrs earlier. I counted all the fish when i was doing my water change. Now the tiger barbs are getting much more aggressive. They seem to chase each other and the zebra danios around a lot more. Whereas before they used to occasionally pick on each other. Since there are only 6, its borderlining the "shoaling number" i guess you could say. I'm getting worried about my otos, since i can see my tiger barbs picking on them... should i go out and buy a few more? how would the existing tiger barbs react to the new additions??

oops i guess i should add what my tank is. 32 US gallons (fluval 204msf), 3 otos, 5 zebra danios and 6 tiger barbs (was 8 to start....)

thanks in advance

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Sounds to me like they're still trying to establish dominance. Out of all your tank inhabitants, I'd say they are the most aggressive. IMHO, 6 is fine. Introducing more TB's will only lengthen the aggression-time span. Have you considered leaving them for the next few days/week/s to establish their ranks?

 

[drunkenmonkey]

i've had this tank running for about 3 months though. shouldn't the dominence have been established a while ago??

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

Yes, but when fish go missing from the pack, they will try to restablish the pecking order to fill their "spot" in line. They will settle down eventualy.