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[Newfish Gal]

I woke up to my tiger barbs are swimming nose down I checked the levels my nitrates are slighly elevated anomia is at 0 and my high range ph is 8.8, the other fish seem fine help what is wrong I add ph down to lower the level.....but what could be wrong

 

[Alien Anna]

Sounds more like nitrites or something spooked them. Check your nitrites (note the "i"). Anything over zero is a problem.

When you say your nitrates are "slightly elevated", what do you mean? And are you sure about the spelling? It makes a vast difference.

In the meantime do a 20% water change and I strongly suggest you don't go near pH Down with a 10 foot pole - that stuff is potential lethal in the hands of a beginner (or anyone, actually). pH swings kill fish very effectively, far worse than high pH.

That said, your pH is a little too high so it would be a good idea to get some bogwood and add it to your tank (boil it first or soak it for a week so it doesn't stain your water too badly). Bogwood will slowly and naturally lower your pH without any shocking happening and will look nice against the tiger barbs.

 

[Newfish Gal]

Sorry about the spelling it was early morning here and seeing the fish like that spooked me I meant to spell nitrite i just tested it again and the level is at 0.25and my ph level is at 7.0 the tiger barbs are swimming normally but sometimes they go nose down....Im looking into getting bogwood my new tank 55 gallons is done cycling but I wasn't sure if I should start moving the fish from the 20 gallon until Im sure they ok thanks so much for your advice

 

[Newfish Gal]

OMG Just found out that barbs sometimes swim looking down just for the heck of it....thoses bloody beggers are going to drive me nuts...I'll keep a eye on them but they seem find eating well chasing everything and every once in awhile they do a head stand....sorry for the bother...

 

[sandyd]

I have 9 barbs, 4 tiger and 5 albino tigers, and they all sleep that way. It freaked me out the first time I saw them do it. Maybe you just woke them up from their naps. LOL
Sandy

 

[bigfish]

Tiger barbs head down is a sign of high nitrites in the water, do a 20% water change and add some cycle and see if that makes a difference.

I read that in a book i got.

 

[BlackWolf0503]

Mine were/are doing this also. Check the Chit Chat forum under similar heading for more info. Mine were doing it in the middle of the day.

 

[Debo]

My Tiger barbs do this ALL THE TIME. They are will encircle a newly introduced fish in this way when I release it into the tank. It alarmed me the first time they did this as i read it was due to nitrite/nitrate poisoning. But I soon realized after endless hours of watching them that this is just something mine do. They are a riot when I put someone new in the tank. At first they owned the tank-until I introduced Loachy and Sharky!!!! What a great fun night that was watching them try to be kings of the tank. Loachy and Sharky won by the way!!!
Deb

 

[Phase2]

There seems to be many mixed repies above. Before you panic into doing something thatmay cause distress can I just say that my Green Tigers tend to do it occasionally...not all of them and not all the time. I thought it may have been some mating ritual?. Anyways I did nothing apart from regular tank maintenance and they are all fine weeks later...with swim bladder problems fish tend to float arouind off balance so I dont think thats the answer.....I think they just like to wind you up.

 

[mrV]

Had it eaten food before it was swimming nose down? They usually eat ravenoysly and after that they swim like having some problems - who ask to eat too much?

 

[Newfish Gal]

Okay now I am soooo confused . The levels were all normal except for nitrites that level was at 0.25. I did A water change and then I checked the levels 24 hrs later all normal and they are still swimming this way...They swim normally for awhile and then nose down then back to normal for abit then again the little beggers go nose down...now after reading all the postings I am sooo confused is this normal or should I be worried...they are eating and all are still bugging my butterfly loach(they favorite toy) ....no signs of white spots or anything......

 

[aquamanis]

My barbs only swim head down when something is amiss. The first time they did the nitrites were too high, the second time there was an itch outbreak. I would deffinately be working on getting your nitrites down to 0 before using any medications or anything. Another tell tale sign of nitrite poisoning is redness on thier sides. Reading your post again I,ve just realised that in the first post you said PH was 8.8, next post you said PH was 7. Thats a big change in a small amount of time. Did you use PH down to do this? This could be a problem.

 

[BlackWolf0503]

Newfish Gal don't worry. I was all upset at this also. I did a water test & the water test was perfect, their was nothing abnormal & my LFS told my the the water was great. He also told me that the reason that Barbs hover around looking at the gravel is that their Swim bladder is in in front of their stomach & when they eat they kinda tip over like that Based on thier current weight & the weight of the food they ingested. I think they also do it for fun or communication. Mine are now fine & their was nothing wrong with them, just my/our reaction to it.

 

[MAM]

whenever i'm at the fish store, i've noticed the tigers doing this from time to time, sometimes alone and sometimes the whole group. my guess, they're jsut resting and not moving constantly, they can't stay completely upright..........