Tiger Barb Question

[fordsvtmfl]

ok, i just bought a new fish tank, followed all the "instructions" given to me by the store/internet...and ive tested the water so i know its ok (its temp is an even 80)...but...i got 2 tiger barbs (getting 2-4 more soon...these were kinda the "test subjects") one of them (the smaller one, which is much brighter..dont know if that has anything to do w/health at all) is perfectly fine...100% A-OK...but the other one (bigger and duller) has me a little worried...ok..it likes to swim kinda vertical w/its head down...(it started this the night after i got it...ive had them 2 days now)..and the other fish tried to chase it/just be around it..and it would swim around...but now it completely ignores the other fish...and will just "swim" between the filter pipe thing..and the glass...ignores food..everything...the other fish isnt bossing it around either..ive actually seen it go up to it..and kinda look at it and swim around it...and when it doesn't do anything back..the little one just swims away....sooooo...any ideas??
Thanks

 

[xcharmanderx421]

ok, i just bought a new fish tank, followed all the "instructions" given to me by the store/internet...and ive tested the water so i know its ok (its temp is an even 80)...but...i got 2 tiger barbs (getting 2-4 more soon...these were kinda the "test subjects") one of them (the smaller one, which is much brighter..dont know if that has anything to do w/health at all) is perfectly fine...100% A-OK...but the other one (bigger and duller) has me a little worried...ok..it likes to swim kinda vertical w/its head down...(it started this the night after i got it...ive had them 2 days now)..and the other fish tried to chase it/just be around it..and it would swim around...but now it completely ignores the other fish...and will just "swim" between the filter pipe thing..and the glass...ignores food..everything...the other fish isnt bossing it around either..ive actually seen it go up to it..and kinda look at it and swim around it...and when it doesn't do anything back..the little one just swims away....sooooo...any ideas??
Thanks

i had this with my barbs too in the beginning. i've been told my tank wasn't cycled enough so the barbs became weak. if your barbs live through this, they'll swim back upright

 

[Lateral Line]

Most barbs, and particularly Tiger Barbs go "nose down" if the water quality is poor. Indeed, there are many aquarists that keep a group in a tank as indicators of trouble. So water trouble is a good starting point. Temperature is only one of several important factors - if you have not cycled your tank, then you will be having ammonia and nitrite problems - that will seriously affect TB's.

The other issue is your group size, TB's are aggressive and will pick on each other. Normally in large groups, the aggression is dilluted amongst the group. In a situation where there is only one dominant and one weaker fish, the dominant usually hounds the weaker to death in fairly short time.

 

[fordsvtmfl]

well thanks for the info...the "sick" one just died...but what i don't understand...is if the water quality was poor...why is the other one thriving? i told the pet store...and they suggested i get 2 more tb's to even out the fighting...(it died when i was getting the other 2) and when the other 2 were in the tank...the little one just will not stop fighting...like it doesn't let any of them rest! what should i do about the little guy? (and the new tb's are about twice his size!)
Thanks

 

[Hollymolly4]

Here's the problem. What you need to do is have a group of 5-6 of them but if you don't have a cycled tank you don't really want to add that many at once unless you plan to do a water change every day for awhile. They still might fight a bit between themselves but it's normal for that kind of fish and also it won't be as bad.
Good luck!

 

[Lateral Line]

As I said above and as HM4 has also stated, your group size for that species is way too small, you need at least 6 and preferably a lot more to keep the aggression evened out amongst the less dominant members.

Barbs generally are a very poor choice of fish for cycling, they do not tolerate pollution well. Your shop is not helping you as much as they should, but that is in no way unusual .