Green Tiger Barbs

[PermanentXHate]

Hey Guys!

Just a quick question here.

I have 6 Green Tiger Barbs and noticed lately that some of them (mainly the smaller ones) have patches on their sides where scales are missing. I do know that Green Tiger Barbs fight or battle or duel or whatever you want to call it for who is going to be the "leader of the school" as they swim around the tank. All paramaters for tank water are in order and the Barbs still swim about happily and eat regularly they just have a little less scales to worry about.

The biggest Barb in the tank always goes after the smaller one, I wished they had all grown about the same in length over time but I had originally started with three and then found out that they prefer to be in groups of six or more and added three more after about a month.

Three are about an inch in length and the other three that were added later are about half an inch in size. (still growing mind you)

The littler ones don't seem to mind TOO much being picked on, they just swim off into a plant and rejoin the group later as if nothing as happend.

Could the loss of scales be because of the fighting?

 

[nukeonekitty]

Barbs have a reputation for nipping one another. I don't know if that would result in scales being torn off though. You might want to think about adding a few more if you have the room. Wait for more advice.

 

[omega59]

6-10 is a good amount, make sure there is some plant coverage so they can hide and feel secure when they get scared. maybe bunch together some plants in a corner and what not. i had to do the same for my tetras and they seem to be okay now.

 

[PermanentXHate]

6-10 is a good amount, make sure there is some plant coverage so they can hide and feel secure when they get scared. maybe bunch together some plants in a corner and what not. i had to do the same for my tetras and they seem to be okay now.

they have plenty of plant coverage. two small ones bunched together and a huge one in the back corner which the small ones love. like i said before only the smaller ones are being bullied they barely grow and im not sure why. the three bigger ones are growing like crazy and the three smaller ones seem to have stunted in growth but still eat and swim naturally.

should i seriously add a few more even though the small ones dont grow very much because of the bullying?

 

[millym]

hi
ive kept tb's green & stripey ones for over 5 yrs & although ours scrap regularly i have never seen any scale loss from the fights & this includes one time when we added a new teeny green who turned out to be the biggest holy terror in the tank, he'd chase the older much bigger barbs ( he was about 1/4 inch in size they were about 2 1/2 inches!!!) so much that they spent all day hiding, until one day when someone turned on mr green & he lost a fight. i have also found that the baby barbs seem to be the meanest with the older ones mellowing as time goes by unlike yours where the biggest seems to be the bully.
i would add something like melafix to help the fish heal without geting any infections. maybe the scale loss is caused by some sort of parasite or infection or is there something in your tank they could be losing their scales on?? something rough??sorry i cant be of more help
great fish!

 

[PermanentXHate]

hi
ive kept tb's green & stripey ones for over 5 yrs & although ours scrap regularly i have never seen any scale loss from the fights & this includes one time when we added a new teeny green who turned out to be the biggest holy terror in the tank, he'd chase the older much bigger barbs ( he was about 1/4 inch in size they were about 2 1/2 inches!!!) so much that they spent all day hiding, until one day when someone turned on mr green & he lost a fight. i have also found that the baby barbs seem to be the meanest with the older ones mellowing as time goes by unlike yours where the biggest seems to be the bully.
i would add something like melafix to help the fish heal without geting any infections. maybe the scale loss is caused by some sort of parasite or infection or is there something in your tank they could be losing their scales on?? something rough??sorry i cant be of more help
great fish!

I don't think there's anything for them to scratch them off on. Nothing rough in my tank anyway. I've treated several times for almost anything that could be in the tank and they seem to still act the same. It's definately been confusing because like I said before it's not like there's a change in eating habits or swimming habits. They don't seem ill or have lack of color. It has me completely stumpped to say the least. Maybe it's just something mine do and I don't need to worry about it? I only thought it was the fighting because the scales are missing exactly where I've seen them nip at each other over and over again.

 

[Lateral Line]

Barbs have a reputation for nipping one another.

A small number of species from the very large Barb group occasionally nip each other is more accurate.

Basically, I am with Milly here. I've kept TB's before and they will nip fins and so forth, but to be taking scales off seems a little excessive. Nitrates will cause barbs to flick against things, gravel, stones whatever they can find - might want to check that as well as the more serious Nitrogen pollutants.

Another thing is are the scales actually off or are they simply lightly, or non-pigmented scales? "Green" TB's are a man-made form and often change in appearance. Similarly, todays "mass produced" regular TB's often show a few odd dark marks where there shouldn't be any - inbreeding.

Is there anything else in the tank that could be going after the scales? Sharks, CAE, Exodons etc.?

 

[PermanentXHate]

Barbs have a reputation for nipping one another.

A small number of species from the very large Barb group occasionally nip each other is more accurate.

Basically, I am with Milly here. I've kept TB's before and they will nip fins and so forth, but to be taking scales off seems a little excessive. Nitrates will cause barbs to flick against things, gravel, stones whatever they can find - might want to check that as well as the more serious Nitrogen pollutants.

Another thing is are the scales actually off or are they simply lightly, or non-pigmented scales? "Green" TB's are a man-made form and often change in appearance. Similarly, todays "mass produced" regular TB's often show a few odd dark marks where there shouldn't be any - inbreeding.

Is there anything else in the tank that could be going after the scales? Sharks, CAE, Exodons etc.?

As I said before all the paramaters in the tank as far as Nitrates are fine. Nothing out of place and never have been in my tank really.

I don't have any other fish in the tank that go after each other. Usually each group keeps to themselves. I've never witnessed any other fish going after the barbs, only the barbs after eachother. That's when I started noticing the scales. I'm not sure about the non-pigmanted scale thing. As close as I can get to them because mine are very active it appears that they are completely gone. They don't have any damaged fins or anything. Just less scales. That's why I'm so confused.

 

[TigerLotus]

Yeah I agree with what's been said. IME of keeping barbs now and in the past I've never seen much more than fin nipping. Missing scales IME comes from flicking on objects. The objects don't have to be rough for the scales to come off if the scratching is continuous. I say best thing now is to observe. If there flicking watch for flashes. If you sit by you tank even thorough peripheral vision you can see something that looks like a flash of light (like a camera flash) and that will let you know if you fish is flicking. The scratch can be very quick and sometimes missed. They will even flick on plants and stems, not always substrate and rocks. Are the scales missing by the gills or on the body?

Good Luck

Tiger Lotus

 

[PermanentXHate]

Yeah I agree with what's been said. IME of keeping barbs now and in the past I've never seen much more than fin nipping. Missing scales IME comes from flicking on objects. The objects don't have to be rough for the scales to come off if the scratching is continuous. I say best thing now is to observe. If there flicking watch for flashes. If you sit by you tank even thorough peripheral vision you can see something that looks like a flash of light (like a camera flash) and that will let you know if you fish is flicking. The scratch can be very quick and sometimes missed. They will even flick on plants and stems, not always substrate and rocks. Are the scales missing by the gills or on the body?

Good Luck

Tiger Lotus

Took the time to sit and watch today and didn't see any flicks. Watched for quite a while too. My hubby was like "are you ever going to tear yourself away!?"

They are behind the side fins. Not many.
Do scales grow back?

 

[PermanentXHate]

bump

 

[TigerLotus]

Haha, doesn't he know us fish addicts can sit and stare at our tanks for hours. Anything for the fishes... : )

On a more serious note though, I am completely puzzled with whats going your fish. Scales do grow back over a period of time. I think different times for different fish. I know Melafix is suppose to help with scale and fin re growth so you may want to give that a shot.

Good Luck

Tiger Lotus

 

[PermanentXHate]

Haha, doesn't he know us fish addicts can sit and stare at our tanks for hours. Anything for the fishes... : )

On a more serious note though, I am completely puzzled with whats going your fish. Scales do grow back over a period of time. I think different times for different fish. I know Melafix is suppose to help with scale and fin re growth so you may want to give that a shot.

Good Luck

Tiger Lotus

That's what I told him lol.
I was like babe I could do this for hours!

I guess I'll try the Melafix.

I HOPE THEY GET BETTER!
They are my favorite ones.

I'm thinking of setting up another tank JUST for barbs.

 

[Lateral Line]

I noticed you had a CAE in there. Now, these have a reputation for grazing on the sides of other fish to take the slime coat off and they often take some scales as well. That said, I'd be amazed if it did that to a barb, the barbs are just to fast - they tend to go after gouramis and angels mostly, and they love to take Cory's eyes out as well. Not suitable for a community tank IMHO.

 

[PermanentXHate]

I noticed you had a CAE in there. Now, these have a reputation for grazing on the sides of other fish to take the slime coat off and they often take some scales as well. That said, I'd be amazed if it did that to a barb, the barbs are just to fast - they tend to go after gouramis and angels mostly, and they love to take Cory's eyes out as well. Not suitable for a community tank IMHO.

I heard that as well but he came with the tank since it was a hand me down sorta thing. But I can't imagine just throwing a fish out that was perfectly happy. He grew up with the two angel fish that also came with the tank and was quite passive to say the least. I decided to just watch closly and if he threatned anyone I would remove him and add him to my hospital tank. But he pretty much keeps to himself. Only time I see him after other fish is my Australian Rainbows when they mess with him first. He's a sweethear and I love him.