Skittish QT tank--need gravel?

[sarcare]

Yesterday I bought seven tiger barbs to qt for the 38g I plan on setting up for them and my current barbs. They are in a 10g qt tank, with a filter off of my 55g and a java fern log from a 20g. I plan on doing lots of water changes.

I know it will take a bit for the fish to get used to the tank, but right now they are sooooo skittish. They hide under the log or under the corner filter and wont even come out to eat. this behavior is soooooo unusual as compared to my other barbs, who have always been little beggers.

The tank doesn't have any gravel--would adding some now help calm them? I want to add a backgroud to give greater security--but what else can I do to help them clam down so they can eat?

[Star_Rider]

they should get use to the bare bottom.


give them a few days and see what happens. keeping the tank bare bottom is easier for you to maintain since you plan on doing several water changes.by having the bare bottom it's easier to find uneaten food and waste.

[budrecki]

Tall plants (real or fake), subdued lighting, and patience. They will settle in just about the time they're ready to come out of quarantine ;)

[sarcare]

Ok, I've another question about my qt barbs. And I know I'm being paranoid--I just need some reassurance. They are behaving totally unlike the barbs in my other tank--is it usual for fish to exibit such radically different behaviors?

The new barbs are:
*Pale
*skittish
*hide behind a log and under it--which is hard cause it is closer to the bottom then they are tall--so a couple hide at an agle.
*stay at bottom of tank
*swim at an angle swimming with their bodies like / through the water.
*picky eaters

The old barbs are
Colorful
come right to the top and front to beg for food
rarely hide
swim at all levels, but mostly in the middle/top
eat anything and everything
fearless

I plan on going and buying some plastic plants to reassure the fish--but such different behaviors seem more like some sickness rather then just stress!

[budrecki]

All of those things can be signs of stress.

You have to rule out water quality issues.

Only time can rule out disease, that's why they're in quarantine.

[Mgamer20o0]

maybe give them a few more places to hide.

[sarcare]

Ok--I added a thin layer of gravel, and three of the ugliest plants I could find at the store--I just couldn't help it.

The fish are coming out more--EXCEPT I have two QT bullys. I really tried to get all females--but they were all so pale that it was hard to tell what their color would be. Two of them have shown themselves to be VERY male, with bright noses and dorsal fins--and agression enough to herd the other five barbs into a corner--keeping them from food. The tank isn't really big enough for the barbs to get away from the meanies. Would dividing the agressors from the rest in qt help? I could get a tank divider and keep the two or three most agressive in a fourth of the tank and let the others have the rest.

Should I seperate the agressive fish, or wait and see how it works out?