Tiger Barbs problem

K

keitha

AC Members
Jan 19, 2010
22
0
0
England
Guys, need some help!

I have an 11" silver shark that is very happy in my tank having be previously neglected. His fins where all ragged and he wasn't a very good colour. Now that he is all better, I was impressed with my fish keeping skills to bring him round, that was until I introduce 5 1" tiger barbs!!

For about a week they have all been playing nicley together, no fighting, no biting each other, well that was until about an hour ago when I saw the pack of 5 tiger barbs all nipping at various fins on the silver shark. I have feed all of them to see if it was just hunger for the reason but after feeding, they went on a gangland nipping spree.

Any ideas as to why this has started happening and what can I do to stop it, bar removing the barbs or the shark. If it comes to it, the barbs are going down the toilet but don't really want to do that!

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated by me and the silver shark!
 
Tiger barbs are nippy fish. If you can get a large group of them (I'd say around 8-10-12) then they tend to just pick at each other. What size tank do you have? Depending on the size you could add more barbs. Also, the bala (silver) shark is active and should be in groups...they need large tanks to thrive.

I strongly suggest not sending a live, perfectly healthy fish down the toilet. If the problem continues then you WILL have to separate the fish. Whether that is by rehoming or getting another tank is up to you.
 
returning the Bala shark might be the best if you tank isn't large enough for at least 3 (which would require 125g+ size tank)... he's probably all stressed like that becuase he's lonely and feels insecure. I agree about adding more tiger barbs to displace aggression, as long as your tank is large enough and you have room. Please don't flush live fish down the toilet, most fish stores will gladly accept donations.
 
Thanks for the advcie.

I have 5 barbs and only 1 silver shark (saving up for 2 more larger sharks I have seen in a fish shop but need £50 for them as they are about 8-10" long) My tank is currently a 4' tank but I am in the process of refubishing a 6' tank for them all. I could add another 5 barbs easily enough if that will help resolve the problem.
 
If its a standard UK 200l its probably more like 53 gallons if I recall... but pretty much approximate to a 55g from the states in dimensions. A bit OS right now, but the 110g should have room for the balas. might be a bit packed with the tiger barbs, but they're small and don't add much stocking, so you should be good.
 
Jpappy 789 - The small tank is running 2 eheim 2213's at the monet so is over filtered at the moment. Just on good old ebay buying the last bits for the new lid and stand that needed making. Then of to the DIY superstore for more pebbles as
I don't have enough in my small tank to go in the new one. That should keep me entertained washing all the stones whilst the sealent cures in the tank. Didnt like the look of the dead alghi between the glass and sealent so stripped it out, seemed like a good idea at the time but the weather has been C**P over the last few weeks and it wouldn't cure so until it does, I'm a bit stuck!. I'm hoping that it'll all be done in about a week now as I can't really wait any longer!

Fishcatch22- due you mean that the tank is over stocked as it is, with only 5 barbs and 1 shark? as I do have more fish.
 
I wouldn't mix tiger barbs with other fish.
 
keitha said:
Fishcatch22- due you mean that the tank is over stocked as it is, with only 5 barbs and 1 shark? as I do have more fish.
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Such as...?
 
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