Golden dwarf barbs

[SarahBravo]

but you guys know that already! I bought some golden barbs from my lfs because they were the right size, and also beacuse they all had nipped fins and I was sorry for them (I know, not the best reason to buy fish!). Then a week later when I went back they had 2 solitary gold barbs in the tank, so I took them home as well. Except... I've ended up with 7 males and 1 female, and she got chased around so much that I've had to put her in quarantine. What ratio of males to females do I need to have to stop this? Actually the males all get on really well together, so maybe does anyone want to adopt Goldie? Any advice to try to reintegrate her and stop the bullying would be appreciated.

Sarah

 

[The-Wolf]

hi sarah
With most small fish a ratio of two males to one female works best. Although I'm not experianced with any barbs, so this maybe pure speculation.

 

[Lateral Line]

Golden Barbs, B. schuberti, (actually a colour morph of B. semfasciolæatus so not a true species), grow to quite a decent size, easily 3"/75mm. Dwarf Golden Barbs, B. gelius, (my favourite fish by the way - subject of a research project of mine for years), rarely reach more then 1"/25mm.

In either case, an even sex ratio or small male majority is fine. Neither sprecies is a ready spawner like say, B. conchonius or B. nigrofasciatus. Is the one that is being bullied one of the final 2 you got? Could just be the more established fish stamping their authority on the newcomers.

 

[SarahBravo]

Yeah, she was one of the last 2. But they seem to be ignoring the other one, in fact he is even joining in with the pack chasing her. I am swapping all my fish to a new tank soon, so I may try to reintroduce her then, and get her some more females for support. I love my goldern dwarfs too - they're nutters! They dare each other to swim through the filter outflow - they get tossed around like leaves, but they queue up and take turns for hours on end. They really have lots of personality - which I never thought I'd say about a fish!

Sarah