horsensnowrider

Last week one of the female long fin (lf) rosy barbs had some scales missing in a small spot on one side. I checked and double checked all parameters all fine (0-0-15, ph7.4). All other fish look healthy. Absolutely no sign of any disease, parasites, fungus on any fish.

The 2 males (there are 6 females & 2 males) have been somewhat agressive lately. Chasing the females around and occassionally I see them butting the girls, basic harrassment.

The female with the missing scales recovered nicely. The scales seem to have already regenerated, maybe then weren't gone at all...the color was white in those spots rather than light green. She's eating well and seems perfrectly normal.

BUT yesterday morning everyone looked good. I went to work. Came home and a different female lf rosy barb looked similar only even worse. More scales missing and a small part off the bottom of her tail right back to the flesh.!!!

I do have danios but have never seen them go after any of the other fish, let alone nip at any of the other fish...they just merrily chase each other endlessly. The only other potential agressor is the rainbow shark. But the only time I ever see him chase anyone is when someone gets too close to his cave, once "his" cave is secure he happily goes back to it.

The only good this I can say is today the poor gal looks better. No red showing at her tail wound, the missing scale area doesn't have the angry white look of a fresh wound. She is eating well and behaving normally.

Parameters 0-0-15 pH 7.4

Can the males get that agressive to the point they are hurting the females? Doesn't seem like a very good way to pass on their genes if they could potentially kill (directlly or indirectly thru stress etc.) kill the females.

Also, I think my botias were in the mood last week too. 2 of them spent over an hour in a circle dance...lined up head to tail and rapidly swimming in a circle. They would stop occassionaly and line up parallel head to head, tail to tail and quiver. Then one would nose butt the other and the circle dance would start all over. It lasted long enough I was getting tired just watching.

Thanks for any insights anyone can provide.

Tina

Chief_waterchanger

I can say that yes, they can get that aggressive and I'm not sure what you would want to do about that aggression. Perhaps seperate the males out for a day or so. Or, as with some aggressive cichlids, add a couple more females to spread the aggression around so that no one fish gets too much aggression.

horsensnowrider

CWC
Thanks.

Guess I'd better get the Qtank running.

I am hesitant to add more fish. I'm already over stocked. Though there don't seem to be any problems with my fish numbers & parameters which I attribute to a good canister filter, live plants and frequent testing. Water changes and filter media rinsing are done on an as needed basis. When my nitrates get to 20. Never yet had amm or nitrite over 0 since fully cycled.

However, if I do end up having to add more females, what ratio male to female do you recommend. Right now I'm at 1:3
Total of 2 males 6 females.
Thank You