Tiger Barb

[macattack]

One of my T/Barbs has taken to swimming/floating head down? It is extremely bloated and the other three have changed colour over the last 2 - 3 days and they are now green. Can it be that the last remaining black T/B is female and is pregnant or am being paranoid ( being a newbie )

 

[sushi]

my tiger barbs often go "head down" but not for much longer than a few seconds so I think yours might be more serious if they're doing it for a long time. but I'm no expert.
The going green, if they're not green tiger barbs, is caused by serious stress. their colours fade and the black stripes go green. I had to keep all my fish in a 100L container for 2 days, the tigers faded dramatically.
If there's only a green 'shimmer' in the black stripes, it could just be with age, mine have done that, and apparently it's common.
I hope that helps. let us know what's going on. And I hope your tigers are ok. I like them.
Also, if they are stressed, it could be water, cause when mine were in the container, the water got very dirty, and I was assuming that was what it was, along with no light and very cramped space. Check everything's ok.

 

[Daveo]

My tiger barbs only do that when they sleep. I think that it might be stress. being a tiger barb owner i have never seen them tern green. Are they really young because they might be turning green if they are young so maybe they are just getting their true color in.


Daveo

 

[macattack]

Thanks. My T/B is still swimming face down, although the all seem to be the same colour again ( with the exception of one - who has a very red face! ) I have checked all the water levels for nitrates, ph and such - that is all perfect. They are all eating perfectly. I have put some stresszyme into the tank to see if that will chill them out. But none of the other fish seem bothered by anything.
Although I have noticed a small 'white spot' on the nose of one of my little red tetra's - Any clues ???
The tank is cleaned weekly and the water scales are checked weekly with no probs.

 

[digital_run]

You said that he looked "bloated"....If Tiger Barbs are overfed they will hang with there heads down .....just dont over feed them...i know its hard as they will eat everything...maybe give them a day without food..wont hurt them!

 

[macattack]

Digital Run - Thanks for the input, however - I only feed my tank every two or three days ( Sorry - dont mean that to sound rude!) And you are right they do eat everything including my Black Widow and Albino Catfish!!!!
I seem to be at a loss, the fish store I bought them from have no idea and cant suggest anywhere to ask.
How long is a T/B's gestation period? just as a long shot - would it be worth isolating it - adding more stresszyme ....

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

macattack, is the ill fish swimming near the surface of the tank, because if it is have you checked that its scales aren't sticking out (pine-cone like)?

You might have dropsy.......

 

[Cavafish]

Also is it swimming all funny? If it was I'm sure you would have mentioned it though....

1 of mine did the head-down-swimming-wierd thing - really spooked me - but my lfs knew the symptoms before I had a chance to tell all of them. He had stuffed himself too much in one go and had taken in air by feeding too fast - upset his swim bladder and sent him all a-kilter. Recovered after about 12 hours. This could be it if he is swimming funny.

Apparently they are quite susceptable to it....


I knew mine was a 'he' as he had a red nose........hint, hint.

 

[digital_run]

Just wondering...what size tank are they in and what other tankmates do you have with them?

 

[macattack]

Digital Run - My tank is one of these corner unit jobs. It was recommended to me as a good starter size. I think it is 65 litres ( or there abouts! ) -
Tankmates 4 x Tiger Barbs
3 x Black Widows ( it was 4! - a T/B feast)
1 x Dalmation Gouramis
1 x Golden Gouramis
1 x Pearl Gouramis
6 x Red Tetras ( slightly bigger than Neon's - but red!)
1 x Plec
1 x Albino Catfish ( was 2! another T/B feast )

For colour and elegance I did put in a 'Siamese Fighting Fish' - he was full of colour and extremely graceful, however, I think I bought a dud because he was brutally murdered. But I did find his handbag!!

Cavafish - Thanks. I have never heard of that before. How do you stop a T/B from being such a gluton at feeding time? I only have to walk by the tank and they are up against the glass begging for some food!!

 

[macattack]

I have good and bad news!

the good nes is I do not have to worry about my T/B anymore. It is no longer swimming with it's head down.
The bad news is - it is no longer swimming!!! in fact I think it had enough in the tank and left!! the reason I say that is because it is ' no longer ' in the tank? :

I can only guess that the others have eaten it - although there is absolutely no sign of it. no remains at all!!!