Tiger Barbs swimming nose down!?!?! HELP!

[dusterdust]

Ok, I got 3 little tiger barbs yesterday and one is chasing two other ones. The other ones are swimming sporadically and nose pointed down, like at a 45 degree angle. I've read this could be air bublles in their stomach or swimbladder or a breeding thing. Does anyone know what is wrong, should I take these two back? They weren't doing it at the pet store!

[dusterdust]

PLEASE!?

[maxthedog123]

Tiger Barbs swim nose down periodically. Typically they do it after they eat - sometimes for a long period of time. I also see mine do it once in a while during the day.

3 Tiger Barbs are going to be nippy. 6 or more is recommended to keep agression down. Even with my 10, they are constantly trying to figure out who is the alpha in the group.

What size is you tank? What other fish do you have?

[jonnyfry]

mine do it often too , like stated especially after eating .

[Slappy*McFish]

Yup, it's normal.

[dusterdust]

I just bought some albino's, now I have 3 norm and 3 albinos...Will the albinos eventually school with the norms?

[jpappy789]

They should. They won't know the difference!

[Hooked Newbie]

I agree with all of the above. I originally panicked when mine first did this but I think it is a dominance thing.

Does it look like this?
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z192/fishguy1971/P6150073.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z192/fishguy1971/P6150071-1.jpg

Be careful not to overfeed them though. As far as I've seen the whole 30 second rule is completely debunked when dealing with Tigers. They eat FAST and as much as is available!

[dvd_wightman]

If they are doing what hooked newbie's barbs are doing in the pic, there is no problem. They usually do this after they eat.

[vanpudin]

My tiger barbs do something like that at night when its dark. Ill get a flashlight when its dark in room and look in tank. They are almost nose down like there in a trance or something. Almost like their asleep, but there not.

[kr0nic]

My clown loaches swim like that all the time, usually with there nose digging around the substrate, im sure its just natural.

[maxthedog123]

They definitely "sleep" like that as well.

[bullseye69]

yup mine do the same thing after they eat and when at nite.

[mcox3]

when tiger barbs do this its usually a sign of nitrite poison.

[maxthedog123]

Well, it COULD be nitrite poisoning. However, nitrites in my tank are 0 and I can tell you they do that after they eat, pretty consistenly at night, and occasionally when resting during the day.

[Hooked Newbie]

when tiger barbs do this its usually a sign of nitrite poison.

I disagree, my trites are always zero and the barbs do it pretty often (every night).

[Eupterus]

If I recall correctly they swim that way when resting/sleeping at night.

[Hooked Newbie]

If I recall correctly they swim that way when resting/sleeping at night.

They do and also as a sign of dominance. They CAN get swim bladder related problems from overeating (I did ALOT of research on them when I freaked the first time I saw mine do this). The way to tell the difference is that an overeater will have trouble staying mid tank and will actively swim towards the bottom to no avail (My "alpha" had this once). As you know, they EAT like noone's business (I struggle to make sure my RTS gets any). If feeding anything else in the tank, do it well after lights out and use sinking food. Just my 2 cents...

[Sovran]

I was thinking about getting some tiger barbs, but now am not so sure. Something about hanging fish just kinda creeps me out.

[Hooked Newbie]

I was thinking about getting some tiger barbs, but now am not so sure. Something about hanging fish just kinda creeps me out.

They're great fish but, as I learned somewhat painfully, limit their tankmates and are voracious eaters. I wouldn't put them in a tank of bettas...

[Sovran]

Thanks HN - I think I might just follow that advice - I happen to have a tank full of bettas

[Rbishop]

That action is normal from experience and not a sign of poisoning.