question about tiger barbs

[iamsquatty]

i've got 7 tiger barbs, 4 albinos and 3 regulars. i also have a 55 gal aquarium. the tigers are now starting to challenge each other for dominance and establish a pecking order. only problem is, the littlest tiger, an albino, keeps getting picked on by the other larger ones, and i think they are nipping at his back fins. we have him in a little quarantine tank, but should we keep him in the qt or let him stay in the aquarium so they can work it out themselves?

the reason we decided to put him in the qt was because he has been being chased for the past few days and i dont know if he is just tired or hasnt been able to eat (i dont think he's sick, nothing about him looks different physically besides his tail fin being nipped), but he started slowing down.

thanks

 

[Rbishop]

Are those the only fish in the 55?

I'm not a barb expert, but I think you will need to have more of each to ease the aggression, probably 6-8 of at least. Plus others.

 

[jm1212]

i think that you should put him back in the tank but get 7 more the same or smaller than his size. that would definately make it easier on him and then there are more tiger barbs so the agression is spread out more

 

[iamsquatty]

ok, here is an update. ive been watching him, and he is just trying to stay in one place, he is alot more pale than the other albino barbs, and if he turns the right way, it almost looks like his scales are slightly pineconing, but his belly is not huge, so i dont know if that is the first sign of dropsy or not?

any suggestions?

 

[jm1212]

it could be the early stages of dropsy.
still though, i would reccomend doubling your school, and if they are the only things in the tank tripleing or maybe (if you are good w/ w/c's) quadrupleing it. it would give you a great scene to look at.

 

[iamsquatty]

ive got other fish in there also.

do you recommend trying to cure it or just letting him go on his own? should i remove him from the floating quarantine tank in my regular tank or can i keep him in the floating qt? will it spread to other fish?

 

[jm1212]

what do else do you have in there? if you have other fish in there than it is even more important to increase the school
i dont know of any surefire cures for dropsy but you should check on him tomorrow and see if he is any more bloated

 

[iamsquatty]

?

 

[sarcare]

I have a tiger barb species only tank, and there is certainly a pecking rank in the school. The out fish is not the smallest, but the others don't pick on him. He stays by himself.

I agree that you might find a bigger school to help with the aggression. If you could fit even two more in there you'd notice a difference.

Also, tiger barbs are little piggys and can eat enough to get all bloated and sluggish. If you think it is dropsy take him out and put him in a hospital tank. It will also help reduce stress from getting picked at so he will have a chance of recovering.

 

[Grundy]

My tank became much less aggressive when the size of my "school" got over 20 - you could probably handle that in a 55 gallon.