Tiger barb harassing my angel, how do I fix the problem?

[smyke]

So... one of my 9 tiger barbs keeps bugging my angel.
It seemed sporadic at first but now it concerns me. I also noticed that my corys are hiding a lot more since I added 4 barbs lately (bought 5 at first).

I bought a bunch of them because I was hoping that would direct the aggression towards each other, but it just seems to make them too comfortable in that tank.
They all follow the perp and just hang out there (the fact that there is a group of them there probably makes the angel even more uncomfortable) and only that one keeps going after the fins.

I used to keep barbs before and never had that issue even with swordtails in the same tank.

I know the easiest fix would be to remove that barb from the tank but is there anything else I can do???

 

[Chill]

There probably isn't anything you can do to stop the harrassment - the safest course is to remove the angel. Barbs are known for nipping but it depends on their personality sometimes they do sometimes they don't. Having a pack generally helps them focus their antics on each other but not always. Once the nipping starts it will ussually continue no matter what you try.

 

[smyke]

Do you think that if I remove that one barb some other one will step up in its place?

I think it could be just that one individual with the bad attitude.

 

[Chill]

The addition of (or subtraction) of one has been known to change the personality of the pack so I guess it's possible but I expect all that will happen is one of the others will take his place and carry on the harrassment.

 

[smyke]

dang, I dont want to get rid of my angel.

 

[BoredAgain]

dang, I dont want to get rid of my angel.

Then rehome the barbs and consider it a lesson learned.

 

[smyke]

one or the other, I guess. shame on me for not knowing what I was getting into.

 

[smyke]

If I decided to move the angel, what fish could be kept with barbs? a fish that could be considered "center piece".

 

[captaincaveman9]

I was lucky with a gourami with my tiger barbs, but make sure the tank is moderately to heavily planted

 

[Joetee]

MY barb killed my angle in 2 days the same way. I have read that sometimes changing the arrangement might help. Also you can try removing all the barbs for a week or two and let the Angel establish her own territory. and then add the barbs back in but barbs are well known to be fin nippers.

Joetee