1/2 Tinfoil barb acting very erratic

[negativ3ut0pia]

I've had the tank for two weeks now with the fish and about 17 days in total of the water being in the tank. I got my 3 Tiger Barbs and they've always been fine, acting hyper at times messing about with each other. On the other hand i got my Tinfoil Barbs about 5 days ago, they both have been really hyper fish. By hyper, i mean that they sprint up and down my 26gallon tank, and race around, and just do crazy flips and sharp tuns. I had left Thursday afternoon and i got back just a few hours ago, on Saturday morning at about 1:00am, i had fed them before and i just fed them when i got in. If you're wondering, my feeding behavior is about 2-3 times a day, but just enough they finish within 2-3 minutes.

So would anyone happen to know why my tinfoil barb(s) are acting super hyper and erratic?

By the way, this is my first of many posts! I've never been a member of a pet forums before, just really cars but this is super cool! I hope to learn a lot from this. Thanks

 

[meandthetanks]

arent tinfoils going to grow way to big for that tank? and in just 2 weeks your tank wont be cycled unless you used media from an established tank. do you have a test kit? you need to check for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and these need checking daily until cycled. theres lots of info on cycling tanks at the top of the page,just click and read. chances are your fish are acting this way due to ammonia building in the tank i would have thought. im no expert, and im sure someone more knowledgable will be along shortly x

 

[jpappy789]

tinfoil barbs are active fish and with that being said, their activity and their size (up to 14") will not make them a good fit for your size tank.

 

[Coler]

I've had the tank for two weeks now with the fish and about 17 days in total of the water being in the tank. I got my 3 Tiger Barbs and they've always been fine, acting hyper at times messing about with each other. On the other hand i got my Tinfoil Barbs about 5 days ago, they both have been really hyper fish. By hyper, i mean that they sprint up and down my 26gallon tank, and race around, and just do crazy flips and sharp tuns. I had left Thursday afternoon and i got back just a few hours ago, on Saturday morning at about 1:00am, i had fed them before and i just fed them when i got in. If you're wondering, my feeding behavior is about 2-3 times a day, but just enough they finish within 2-3 minutes.

So would anyone happen to know why my tinfoil barb(s) are acting super hyper and erratic?

By the way, this is my first of many posts! I've never been a member of a pet forums before, just really cars but this is super cool! I hope to learn a lot from this. Thanks

Welcome to AC

I'd be worried about the conditions in the tank. Did you cycle it ? check here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

As already noted tinfoil barbs do get very large. For now get a good liquid drop test kit (API make a great one) for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate and Ph. If Ammonia or Nitrate shows on the test, water change to bring to 0.

 

[Rbishop]

What you are experiencing is normal behavior of a fish that gets way to big for a 26 gal tank. I recommend returning the tinfoils and adding another 3 tigers.

Also get the test kit if you don't have one. Have you done any water changes since setting it up? Wish you luck.

 

[jm1212]

:iagree:

your tiger barbs will be better off in a larger school, and tinfoils jsut get to big for your tank.

also take into consideration that the tiger barbs may be harassing your tinfoils.

 

[negativ3ut0pia]

arent tinfoils going to grow way to big for that tank? and in just 2 weeks your tank wont be cycled unless you used media from an established tank. do you have a test kit? you need to check for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and these need checking daily until cycled. theres lots of info on cycling tanks at the top of the page,just click and read. chances are your fish are acting this way due to ammonia building in the tank i would have thought. im no expert, and im sure someone more knowledgable will be along shortly x

My Amonia, Nitrate, Nitrite pH, GH and also KH are all where they need to be. Yes, i do have a test kit and i've tested my water before i put the fish in as well as every other day just to make sure.

tinfoil barbs are active fish and with that being said, their activity and their size (up to 14") will not make them a good fit for your size tank.

Well my buddy has a 55 gallon tank, so he already agreed to take them both once they get to big for my tank. This fish are getting really old and will need some new tenants in a few months maybe a year or two.

Welcome to AC

I'd be worried about the conditions in the tank. Did you cycle it ? check here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

As already noted tinfoil barbs do get very large. For now get a good liquid drop test kit (API make a great one) for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate and Ph. If Ammonia or Nitrate shows on the test, water change to bring to 0.

I briefly looked over that link, just because i haven't had much time, but i will go over in further detail later tonight when i get a chance. Also, all all my amonia, nitrite, nitrate leves are perfect :headbang2:

What you are experiencing is normal behavior of a fish that gets way to big for a 26 gal tank. I recommend returning the tinfoils and adding another 3 tigers.

Also get the test kit if you don't have one. Have you done any water changes since setting it up?

Well my 3 tiger barbs are all under 1.5 inch, whereas my Tinfoils are both under 2inches, at the moment. I will put them in my buddy's 55 gallon tank once they get to be about 4 inches =)

:iagree:

your tiger barbs will be better off in a larger school, and tinfoils jsut get to big for your tank.

also take into consideration that the tiger barbs may be harassing your tinfoils.

Well they seem pretty friendly to each other. Everytime i feed them, they all go up to the top and eat together. No fighting or anything... well they'll chase eachother around time to time, but thats for a second and then they stop

 

[Rbishop]

Well, you asked for input, got it and apparently have decided there isn't any issue. Why post it in the first place then?

 

[Coler]

My Amonia, Nitrate, Nitrite pH, GH and also KH are all where they need to be. Yes, i do have a test kit and i've tested my water before i put the fish in as well as every other day just to make sure.



Well my buddy has a 55 gallon tank, so he already agreed to take them both once they get to big for my tank. This fish are getting really old and will need some new tenants in a few months maybe a year or two.



I briefly looked over that link, just because i haven't had much time, but i will go over in further detail later tonight when i get a chance. Also, all all my amonia, nitrite, nitrate leves are perfect :headbang2:
...

Well, you either cycled the tank prior to adding fish, or it is in the process of cycling as we speak. My suspicion is the latter based on what you say. If that is so your fish could be in trouble.

What is your actual reading for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and how are you testing ? I wouldn't have asked except that I'm trying to help and this does seem like a tank going through a cycle with fish in which is quite volatile.

 

[negativ3ut0pia]

Well, you either cycled the tank prior to adding fish, or it is in the process of cycling as we speak. My suspicion is the latter based on what you say. If that is so your fish could be in trouble.

What is your actual reading for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and how are you testing ? I wouldn't have asked except that I'm trying to help and this does seem like a tank going through a cycle with fish in which is quite volatile.

I did let the tank cycle for approximately a week prior to putting my tiger barbs in there. Then a about 1/2 a week later, i put in the tinfoil barbs.

I did the test and the readings are as followed:
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
pH - 7 Fresh
KH - 40
GH - 60


How do these numbers look? Also, the first few days i had the tank, i had a lot of foam at the top of the tank. What further helped the increase in the foam was me turning on the bubbles in the background. So when i had the bubbles turned off, there was minimal bubbles, but when i turned it on, it was about an inch of foam on the top, above the water.