tiger barb behavior

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vadim

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Mar 24, 2004
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I just setup up an 20g aquarium, and while it is cycling I got 4 tiger barbs last Friday.

Most of the time 3 of them are together, and one is separate, usually in the top portion of the tank, but sometimes they are all together. What is worrying, is the fact, that during feeding 3 tiger barbs would chaise off the other one, and even after they are done eating and are gone playing in the lower portion of the tank, the 4th barb would not even try to eat.

Should I worry, or is this normal for tiger barbs?

Thanks,
 
It's normal for tiger barbs to pick on each other. The three strongest will drive off the weekest until it dies and then start on the next weekest. It's better to keep them in larger schools though. That way they are more comfortable and it's easier for them to hide in the group.

I would recommend adding 3-4 more EXCEPT for the fact that you are still cycling. I would have the tank fully cycled before adding more fish. To help the week one eat put some of the food in on the far side of the tank and wait for a sec. Then add some to right near the weekest one when it has been chased off. If it get's enough food it should survive being harassed.
 
Originally posted by JesseJ
ITo help the week one eat put some of the food in on the far side of the tank and wait for a sec. Then add some to right near the weekest one when it has been chased off.
Click to expand...

I tried this, but the week one doesn't seems to be interested. :(
 
Today, i tried to put weak fish in separate cup and feed it there. Seems like it was completly not interested in food.

I really don't want to loose this fish, any recomendatins?

Thanks,
 
I had similar problems, although with another type of fish.
It never ate, even when I gave it food directly

Poor fish died on me though
 
Well....you wanted to keep tiger barbs....now you know why I don't keep them. They're pretty and all, but fin-nippers and they severely limit what other kind of fish you can have in the tank.

I say flush 'em and start over with kinder gentler fish that aren't so aggressive, if what you want is a community tank.
 
( JesseJ --thankyou for that "humane way" statement ...be warned that there are some here that disagree that freezing is humane ...even for coldwater fish like gold fish )



unfortunately there is nothing that can really be done with weaker fish except let them be further food for the other barbs... and they can and will be really nasty

Ozark Joe is right about them ... but if you want to have them be prepared for fish loss
 
I know this topic is old , but I am having barb problems as well.....

Am I guessing right in saying that you just cant have a school of barbs without them eventually killing each other off?

They'll kill the weakest one until there is one left?

This sucks........
 
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