View Full Version : Tin Foil Barbs Sick
I have 3 Tin Foil Barbs. They aren't so shiney anymore. They all are turning gray and it looks like some of their scales have come off. WHat is this and what can I use to help them.
PumaWard
08-01-2003, 6:54 AM
What size tank do you have them in? What are your water perameters? Do they have any tankmates?
Is it just a few scales or a lot? Sorry I'm asking more questions than giving answers, but its hard to get an idea of what is going on without these answers.
It's a 55 gallon tank. The parameters are fine. I checked them 3 days ago and the Ammonia was 0 and the Nitrites were 0. There is other fish in the tank as well. There is 4 Tiger barbs, 4 Rosey Barbs, 2 Green Tiger Barbs, a Rainbow Shark. A few adoptees: a Red Platey, a Serpae Tetra, a Mixed Fruit Tetra, a Cori Cat, and a Otocinclus. The skin looks dull like someone colored some gray onto them, it looks thick. The spots where the scales look like they have fallen off are of about medium size. They eat somewhat but not like they used too.
PumaWard
08-01-2003, 9:22 AM
Is it at all possible that they are fighting or something else is is picking on them. Also, make sure that the water is the right temperature for them. I'm sorry I can't help you anymore, but maybe someone else can. By the way, how long have you had them?
They are about 4 times the size of any other fish in the tank. I have had them about 6 months maybe longer. The other fish don't mess with them.
Rocketman
08-03-2003, 1:38 PM
Visit my website for some info on Tin Foils Barbs, probably won't help you now, but still good-to-know info, www.geocities.com/Rocketman4874.
Now, I had the same thing happen to my Tin Foil Barbs in a smaller area; it was from them chasing each other. I also have the same thing on two of my Balas that were in the same tank; I still haven't found out what it is, but I moved them into another tank and they are recovering. What they had sounds identical to what you are saying.
So, I would tell you to watch those Barbs even closer, see if their movements have slowed, and make sure nothing makes a repeated attempt at hurting them. This would include watching that Oto to see if it is possibly sucking the slime coat off those fish. By the way, how do you keep that oto from getting eaten? My Tin Foils will eat a fish 5 times the size of my Otos...
The only thing I've ever noticed with them is they will rub themselves together but it looks like a mating thing to me. I don't think the other fish bother them but I will watch more closely. My Oto doesn't really around to much. He's pretty good at making himself scarce so I guess they don't have a chance to eat him. I also have never seen him around them either. The only fish I've seen chase them was my rainbow shark. I also noticed the same thing on my Cori cat though. I've been treating the past few days with medication and it seems to be getting better. Keep my fingers crossed.
Rocketman
08-04-2003, 11:16 PM
The rubbing things with the Tin Foils are not mating things, (they won't breed.) Look closer: does it look more like they swim together closer, and then kind of nip at each other before they break off?
They pretty much stay together all the time. There is 3 of them. They swim back and forth but not close enough to rub each other. They only rub against each other every so often. I have never seen them nip at anything let alone each other.
Rocketman
08-06-2003, 7:01 PM
This still sounds a lot like what my Bala Shark had...as I still don't have a clue what it was this doesn't help you though - but I do know what you are talking about, how these fish look.
The best I could gather is that my Bala was just roughed up. He's doing fine in another aquarium now, so this is all that I can tell you.
However, Tin Foil Barbs are rather sensitive to chemicals and water parameter, especially ammonia. But you said your Ammonia is 0 (as it should be in any established Aquarium,) so this path kind of leads us nowhere. The only other possibility I can think of now is some household contaminent. Did you paint any rooms recently? Did you use any bleach or windex, etc, near the tank lately?
I haven't used anything chemicals near the tank ever. We do however have a 15 month old neice living here as well and she loves the fish. It is possible she may have thrown something in. The medication is helping though. They are getting their shine back and seem in better health. I am definelty keeping an eye on them.
Rocketman
08-07-2003, 5:56 PM
Good. Keep it up, and esspicially note changes in activity, (when they become more active,) not just physical changes.
And make sure you complete the treating cycle even if it looks like all symptoms are gone.