Panting Tiger Barb

[markd_uk]

One of my Tigers in a pack of 8 is 'treading water', nose pointed down and is panting. All other fish are fine...

Any help appreciated, thanks....

 

[black angel]

How long has it been doing this and is it male or female? Females do this when exhausted from spawning or to keep males away if being harrassed. Could also be from ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Kidneys might be packing up or parasites but that depends on how long you have had it and any new fish introduced lately.
Check your water stats and observe the fish closely. Swim bladder may also be to blame as well.

 

[markd_uk]

Thanks very much. The Tiger (female I think) has been like it for 2 days. Ammonia is .6 and ph 7.8 from todays readings. The bunch of them were brought about 4 days ago...

 

[black angel]

Have you already cycled the tank or are you doing it with these fish? Im not sure ammonia would be to blame here but some fish are more sensitive than others.
How many gallons and filtration used and how you clean the filter out as well. Make sure you arent overfeeding as this can cause spikes to happen.
Do a water change to take it down a bit and check for nitrites and nitrates as well.
It may still be something else but getting your water spot on helps.

 

[tttnjfttt]

In general, tiger barbs are very sensitive to bad water. I know the second my tank has a problem because of mine. They become inactive and go nose down. Once you have done the water change as the previous post suggests, watch for other signs of illness. prticularly red inflamed gills or if they are scratcing against any objects in the tank

 

[RedShark]

tttnfjttt, Would a salt bath be okay for the tiger barb w/ red inflammed gills or is that like salt on an open wound? I recently encountered one of my tiger barbs behaving like this with inflammed gills. I assumed it was an external parasite or something so i just gave him a five minute salt bath. Afterward he looked the same, only grateful not to be in the salty water anymore. Any suggestions. He's been like this for over a day now. He needs help

Ammonia - 0
ph - 7
nitrites - 0
nitrates - 0
30 gallon tank

 

[love_fish]

What are your nitrites at? This is typical behavior from a Tiger Barb when they sense climbing nitrites.

 

[j.c]

One of my Tigers in a pack of 8 is 'treading water', nose pointed down and is panting. All other fish are fine...

Any help appreciated, thanks....

is your tank well airated if not that could be the problem?