View Full Version : tiger barb too bouyant
*i am a newbie*
two of my large tiger barbs point at about a 20-30 deg angle downwards almost all the time, and one is 45-55 deg. :(
is this normal, or are the poor things affected by my water in a negative way and they can't adjust their ballasts to have neutral bouyancy?
my ph is rather high, 7.4 i think, or near there, my ammonia is very safe, my nitrites are fine and my nitrates are a little on the high side due to the cycle just now finish cycling, but within limits.
OrionGirl
03-24-2004, 4:42 PM
Bouyancy issues are often the result of an internal bacterial infection that is affecting the swim bladder. Were these fish used to cycle? If so, it's possible that the conditions experienced in the cycle are negatively impacting the fish now, even though the water is better now.
Do some water changes, feed them lightly. I wouldn't rush to medicate, because sometimes good conditions will right the fish, and often, even if a fish is badly infected, medications cause more problems than they resolve. Internal infections are tough to treat, and antibiotics added to the water seldom are effective.
Originally posted by OrionGirl
Bouyancy issues are often the result of an internal bacterial infection that is affecting the swim bladder. Were these fish used to cycle? If so, it's possible that the conditions experienced in the cycle are negatively impacting the fish now, even though the water is better now.
Do some water changes, feed them lightly. I wouldn't rush to medicate, because sometimes good conditions will right the fish, and often, even if a fish is badly infected, medications cause more problems than they resolve. Internal infections are tough to treat, and antibiotics added to the water seldom are effective.
no, they were just added yesterday. should i remove them or try to return them? are my other fish already infected if this is what it is?:(
thanks for the fast response. i will just hope they enjoy their new bigger home and get better.
OrionGirl
03-24-2004, 4:47 PM
If you just got them, I would take them back. IME, swim bladder problems seldom resolve themselves, and while seldom infectious, are not worth the risk.
FastFish
03-24-2004, 5:24 PM
At what angle is the tank lighting?
the lighting is directly above the tank.
what is IME? in my experience?
thanks, i'm going to take the fish back to the store today or tomorrow.
edit - my gf is very 'humanitarian' and wimpy and wants to see if he'll get better, she doesn't want them to kill him if i return him. i sorta don't want it either. he can still live and eat, he just swims in a downward spiral. :-/ he's almost vertical right now.
JesseJ
03-24-2004, 5:58 PM
He may survive but I doubt it. You could try meds but I think he is too far gone. I would take him back and ask for a replacement. watch the fish for about 10 min and see if any others are having the same kind of trouble. If so then you can do 2 things. Try to get one that looks healthy (not good, could still be sick) or ask for a store credit (better, get a packaged good like food or filter media).
When you keep any sort of pet you have to be prepared for it to die. It's the sad part about becoming attached to something. With land pets you can get a vet to look at it and possibly help but with fish it doesn't happen as often. Some places that have very expensive fish can get a specialist in to look at them but that costs a lot of money.
IME = In My Experience
BTW (by the way), I don't think that being humanitarian or being compassionate to the suffering of other creatures makes a person "wimpy" in any way.
thanks for your help. oh well, looks like i should go to the store now. can others tell their experiences as well just for confirmation?
it is frustrating that she is so caring, she took a whlie to even warm up to having live bearers of opposite sex have babies and get eaten by the other fish maybe. i guess i'm just a typical guy. this is supposed to be my birthday present and she has been sad about wanting to change up what fish we cycled with the tank from the get-go, and she has guilted me into compromising what kind of fish. oh well, i'm just venting! guys need to vent sometimes, or at least i do! :)
LoneWolf1Seven
03-24-2004, 6:30 PM
Don't take them back just yet, tiger barbs do this for several reasons, 1) when new to a tank they will do this to get their bearings and to acclimate themselves to their new surroundings(they at this time will pay little attention to food), 2) they will do this when they tire ( being put into a new location is stressful, even for us fish keeping humans, or do they keep us?:confused: Anyway , 3) they will do this when there is a curent of water they want to ride or hover in, usually in the corner in front of a power filter and sometimes close to a heater, 4) another reason is they lack of companionship, how many do you have? and whats the difference in size amongest them? the older they get the less active they are (the equivalent to us couch potatos, like me :D who should be out doing.....well I'll do that tommarow:rolleyes: Tiger barbs are very hardy, I myself have 6 tigers, 6 green tigers and 6 painted tigers, most of which showed the same signs when I first got them, plus I have 9 tiger kids 1 1/2 months old and 20+ tiger fry, all the product of the ones mentioned above.....by the way, your pH 7.4 is the preferred for your barbs;) .....hope you enjoy them....
well, it's too late, i returned the one barb that was really showing signs of ill health. every hour he got worse... before i returned him, he was just swimming in a little circle pointed vertically. he was seriously not doing well. :(
i haven't gotten another one, i'm going back next week with the girlfriend and picking out a crawfish, a bala shark, and another tiger or two.
i have two large tigers now and two small ones. should i get another couple small or large ones?
tank is 45 gal hex tank.
The Inspector
03-25-2004, 4:35 AM
Are you sure you wanta crawfish? There have been several threads here about negative experiences with crawfish in community tanks. Seems they like to eat your fish and will grab anything that gets within reach. They also do a number on your plants, from what I hear. Never had one because of those threads.:eek:
JesseJ
03-25-2004, 5:32 AM
The crayfish is probibly not a good idea for the reasons Inspector went over.
The Bala is a very, very bad idea. They are a shoaling fish and need to be kept in groups. They grow to over a foot long (about 14"). They need a lot of swimming room and even a small one in a hex tank could go 2-3 body lengths and have to turn. And finally when they are nervous they tend to jump out of small tanks. A dead fish on your floor really sucks.
snakeskinner
03-25-2004, 9:43 AM
I have tiger barbs, green tiger barbs and albino tiger barbs and I've had several do this from time to time and have not had a death other than a green tiger barb in which wasn't even doing this. I also have a couple that will stand on their head, almost falling over backwards at times. It seems they're just watching for food on the bottom or something. As for the floating, I've watched a couple that looked like they were struggling to keep below the surface and seemed if they stopped swimming would float to the top like a balloon but after a while they'll just swim away like nothing was wrong. I've never figured out what they're doing but I think they are in the current caused by the filter and the air stone. I personally would just let them be and see if they seem to act normal at times but since you've already taken them back, it's not very possible anymore. If you have any others do this, give them time. Kyle
somewhat off-topic, but there's something that's been happening to a couple off my tiger barbs. When I got them, they were quite small, but over the past month, they sorta grown in length, and have become less "diamond" shaped. They are long skinny fish and don't see to be doing very well. Some have been fine, but now the once dominant barb is becoming very "longish" as well.
Any ideas?