Tiger Barb Is Acting Wierd

[bernermad]

I have 6 tiger barbs, 1 red tailed shark, and 1 pleco in a 75 gallon tank. They all have great appetites and are usually quite rowdy. I have 1 tiger barb, however, that isn't acting right. The 1 tiger barb floats vertically, at an angle, with it's head down. None of the other fish are doing this though. The tiger barb is eating good though and other than that does not show any signs of stress. The younger barbs we just added are also doing fine. This one that we are questioning though is the one that gets chased around the most though. I can't seperate this barb because our other tank isn't quite ready to add fish to yet but should I watch for anything else?

 

[WILDER]

Try some shelled peas.
What do you normally feed the fish.
Stats would be good in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

 

[bernermad]

I'll try the peas.

Usually we feed flakes along with some freeze dried.

The ammonia is good, from what I can tell. It's 0 or maybe a tad bit high but nothing in the stress zone. I'll have to do a ph check but the nitrites are at about 20. My boss tested the water herself as well and said there is nothing that should stress her out. She seems ok today though she pooped good and has been swimming and resting normally. Fingers crossed it was a fluke thing.

 

[WILDER]

If ammonia and nitrite are not 0 its saying tank not cycled.
How long has the tank been set up.
Ammonia and nitrite can soon kill a fish.

When you say 20 nitrites do you mean nitrates.

 

[bernermad]

If ammonia and nitrite are not 0 its saying tank not cycled.
How long has the tank been set up.
Ammonia and nitrite can soon kill a fish.

When you say 20 nitrites do you mean nitrates.

yeah, I meant nitrates . Sorry I'm not used to all the terms yet and always get those two mixed up. The tank is cycled though. We had piranhas in there and when we moved they unfortunetely didn't survive the trip so we've had the tank set up and running for almost 2 months with nothing in it. I work at a fish store and my boss did water tests on the water every day. Even on the days that I did not work since the store is so close I would bring a sample in.

I did find my ph test kit and the ph is at a good range for all the fish. It's a little less than 7.5, around 7.3.

 

[dixaisy930]

While there was nothing in it, did you add food to the tank? If not, your bacteria could have died off.

Anything other than 0 for ammonia means something is wrong.

Is there anyway you can seperate from the others? The harassment will only make the barbs situation worse.

What temp are you running the tank?

 

[bernermad]

Yeah we added flake food to the tank.

The ammonia, atleast from my test stripes, says 0.

Unfortunetely our 30 gallon is not ready yet to add fish so I can't put her in yet but it should be ready in a week or so.

I have the heater set at 74 because it has a tendency to flucuate between 74-76 degrees. I try to keep it as close to 75 as I can but have heard people suggest to keep barbs around 73 to lower aggression.

 

[dixaisy930]

Hmm....could you have your lfs test your water? The strips can sometimes be inaccurate.

I would still do a small WC, just 10%. It can't hurt.

Try the pea suggestion and see if that helps.

Lowering the temp a little might help too. I would lower it one degree a day. It'll be gradual enough that it shouldn't shock the fish.

 

[Amunet]

Are you sure it's not just resting?
We had gotten a few barbs and before they got sick... they would rest at an angle head towards the bottom.