So I noticed this morning that one of my albino tiger barbs is missing an eye. He doesn't look ill and the socket looks perfectly fine. It doesn't look diseased or anything like that. It doesn't even appear that it bothers him any. However, this is the second albino tiger barb it has happened to. The other one I noticed months ago and he is still living and perfectly fine and just as this one, it never looked "gross" or anything like that. In the tank are 4 albino tiger barbs, 4 "normal" tiger barbs, one 4" CAE, and a pair of Paradise Fish. They are in a 20 gallon long tank that is moderately planted and has driftwood and what not. the ph is about 7, Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, and Nitrate is under around 15--I'm using a liquid test kit. Anyone know what could have happened to the "missing" eye(s). This is really strange to me. Is someone sucking their eye out or what? I don't think it's a disease. My tiger barbs are going to need to learn braille before I know it!!
Tiger Barb is missing an eye...
- Thread starter Natosha24
- Start date
Sorry to hear about the barbs! I have no eyedea (terrible, I know. I just couldn't pass it up). Was there any sign of stress or anything wrong with it's eye before it was gone? Have you seen any aggression in the tank?
LOL @ the braille comment.
LOL @ the braille comment.
just remember, in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!
Wish I had something that was actually helpful to say, good luck!
Wish I had something that was actually helpful to say, good luck!
LoL at you two. I don't feel so bad laughing about it since everything seems perfectly fine and nobody is stressed. The tiger barbs are always mouth to mouth going in circles with each other. I've never seen them go after eachother's eye though. I have had them all (and all together) since they were lil tiny guys and they've always done it. I figure they're "playing." I mean, they have to do something to occupy themselves, right? I've never noticed anything wrong with the eye before it went missing. I always spend at least 5 minutes at each feeding time (twice a day) looking them over and making sure they're eating and healthy and whatever.
I've wondered if maybe the CAE sucked their eye out. That was the only thing I could think of. I've never seen him go after them though. The paradise fish are pissy lil buggers but it's because they try to breed and their bubble nest gets messed up and well--that's the end of that. Again though, I've never seen them go after a tiger barb.. they usually just stick to one another. WeIrD.
I've wondered if maybe the CAE sucked their eye out. That was the only thing I could think of. I've never seen him go after them though. The paradise fish are pissy lil buggers but it's because they try to breed and their bubble nest gets messed up and well--that's the end of that. Again though, I've never seen them go after a tiger barb.. they usually just stick to one another. WeIrD.
So, are you saying that you think it's the CAE that is stealing the eyes of the tiger barbs? As I said, I haven't seen him go after them nor show any aggregation. If need be, I'll stick him in the African Cichlid tank.
How do you "get rid" of fish so easily? When I purchase the CAE the guy at the lfs said that as they grow and mature that they get aggressive. He said when that happens to just give him a flush. I can't do that--especially considering I don't *see* aggression from him.
IMO, if he's that big and docile, no need to take action unless/til he gets agressive. They're mean at 12".
When people on here say to "get rid of a fish", they are referring to taking it to a LFS, putting it in a different tank, giving it away, etc. (I think and hope at least). The guy at your LFS should be flogged for advising to flush a live fish!
:FIREdevil:
I had a CAE that was extremely aggressive at about 2". It was harassing my tetras and cories mercilessly. I didn't want it in the first place (was a housewarming gift from a friend) since I know they can be aggressive. When it got to be too much for the rest of my fish, I gave it to another friend that has a 150g tank. We're all much happier now.
CAE's really aren't community fish, in my opinion.
CAE's really aren't community fish, in my opinion.
I had two of them at one point. The albino one and a normal one. Well the "normal" one I ended up putting in my 10 gallon tank with the small convict cichlids I was keeping in there (trying to get rid of) and they made a meal out of him over night. He was at least 3 inches. At that point I realized that they must not be as aggressive as they're made out to be.
This one that we're talking about now doesn't seem aggressive at all yet. I totally agree with the need for the guy at the lfs to be flogged. The bad part is this is a HUGE fish store and they only have fish. Hundreds of fish. I was shocked that he said it. I know they wouldn't take him back.
This one that we're talking about now doesn't seem aggressive at all yet. I totally agree with the need for the guy at the lfs to be flogged. The bad part is this is a HUGE fish store and they only have fish. Hundreds of fish. I was shocked that he said it. I know they wouldn't take him back.