Help With My Tiger Barbs.

[bignev]

Hi all,

I got a new aquarium for christmas and i'm just starting out. I have started off with four tiger barbs, they seem to have settled in o.k, but i was told that theyre ferocious eaters, and that doesn't seem to be the case. I've been using flake food and when i put it in they don't come up to the top for it, I have to let it float on the top fot a bit then gently push it down. Only when it's on the bottom of the tank do they seem to go for it. Even then they're not eating much. They also don't seem to be swimming round a lot, is this normal?
Any help/advice would be much appriciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Test your water, you might be having an ammonia or nitrite spike which can be harming the fish. Also, your water stats (ph, hardness) may not be best for the fish.

Please post water stats.

 

[Betta5]

How big is the tank?
Has it cycled?
With tiger barbs, altho they are hardy they are fin nippers. So no guppies, bettas or things like that. They are beautiful fish tho.

 

[DarkEntity]

My bet is that you got the tank for Xmas and then the next day stuck fish in it on the excellent LFS advice.

If so take the fish back and cycle the tank, check the sticky's at the top for info.

 

[020292]

Did you cycle the tank and did you make sure all the water params were okay and things like that? Let us know your water stats and this will help us a lot!

THanks!
Good luck!

All the behavior is not normal becuase i have tiger barbs and this is not normal becuase mine always swim and never are just sitting there. Please let us know!

Thanks!

 

[bignev]

Thanks for all the helpful advice guys much appriciated. Found a big aquatic centre near where I live, they were also very helpful. Turns out that the nitrate was too high in the water and have now got a water testing kit and conditioner for the water, once again thanks for all your advice.

p.s they seem a lot happier now

 

[Fishkrazy1]

the tiger swimming around alot should be normal they are quite active... But as for not coming to the surface?! something is strange there! make sure you cycle the tank and return the fish to the store, or give them to a friend with an already established tank