abc123d30

I have a 20 gal. tank and I plan to put in 6 tiger barbs. My tank has been set up for about a month now and it's cycled. I plan to eventually move the barbs into a larger tank but for now they will stay in the 20 gal.

I know you should only add 2 fish at a time but if I only add 2 at a time then won't the ones that I added first be more aggressive towards the ones that I add later on?

Lucy

That's a very good possibility. With an aggressive fish like that it might be best to add them all and keep a real close eye on the water parameters.
Others may have different advice, but I think that's what I'd do.

abc123d30

Yeah I was thinking about adding them all at the same time but then there's probably still a good possibilty my tank will go through some sort of mini cycle or something.

bolivianbaby

I agree with Lucy. With most species, it's best to just add 2 at a time, but with more aggressive species, such as barbs, it's best to add the entire school at once. And as Lucy said, keep a real close eye on the water parameters. If you see any ammonia or nitrite spikes, be prepared for water changes and have Prime on hand to detox.

They're beautiful fish! Can't wait for pics

abc123d30

Thanks for the advice. This is probably a dumb question but what is prime?

bolivianbaby

No question is dumb here. That's how we all learn

Prime is a water condition that detoxifies ammonia and nitrites, which are both harmful to fish during the nitrogen cycle or mini-cycles. If your ammonia and/or nitrites spike when you add the fish, you can do your water changes and add the prime to make the water safe for your fish while your nitrifying bacteria catches up. It's made by Seachem.

Diggly

Hi,

I just set up a new tank with barbs and added them 2 at a time with no problems - hope this helps =).

Edit - I added them about 4 days apart as when there were only 2 there was quite a bit of chasing.

abc123d30

Thanks for all the advice everybody. Also, I have another type of water conditioner but it's not called Prime. Do I have to get prime?

bolivianbaby

What's the name of your water conditioner that you're using now?

The reason a lot of members recommend prime is because it detoxifies the ammonia and nitrites, which is better for the health of the fish, but if you don't have ammonia or nitrite spikes, you don't have to use it as long as your current water conditioner removes chlorine and chloramines. Please let me know if I'm confusing you. I know I'm throwing a lot of information your way

abc123d30

I have 2 water conditioners. One is called AquaSafe and it says that it "Neutralizes chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals harmful to fish. Enhances natural, protective slime coating of fish." I also have one called Topfin water conditioner and says that it "Reduces harmful chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals. Replenishes necessary electrolytes to reduce stress." Not sure which one is better or if they're basically the same thing.

bolivianbaby

I use Aquasafe myself, so I know that's a good water conditioner. I'm sure other members will see this thread and they'll be able to post their thoughts on the TopFin conditioner. Unfortunately, I've never used it, so I couldn't tell you either way.

Neither water conditioner you mentioned detoxifies ammonia or nitrites. However, if you can get ahold of Amquel+, that is also a good detox for ammonia and nitrites. Unless your tiger barbs are really, really young when you get them, there's a good chance you will have an ammonia spike in a 20 gallon aquarium. Both Amquel+ and Prime will detoxify your ammonia/nitrites for 24 hours until your next water change until your bacteria can catch up to the waste being produced by the barbs.

abc123d30

Thanks again for all the help. Are Amquel and Prime easily found at a LFS?

bolivianbaby

I've seen them both at PetsMart. Do you have one near you? If not, I think, but I can't swear to it, that Petco carries at least one.

Most LFS that sell fish should carry either one, if not both. Good luck and please keep us posted

jdhef

Rachel,

Is this a new tank? Has it been cycled?

It sounds to me that if this is a new tank, adding a bottle of Tetra SafeStart and then adding all six Tiger Barbs at the same time would be the safest way to go. That should eliminate the possibilty of a spike in ammonia or nitrites.

I recently started using Amquel+ and I'm very happy with it but, Amqel+ will make the API liquid test kit show a false positive for ammonia. I personally use a ammonia test kit from Kardon (the company that makes Amquel+, but I think the only way to get it is to mail order direct from Kardon). I also was told by an unimpeachable source (Aquarist48) that the Tetra Laborette kit works fine with Amquel+

abc123d30

I decided just to get 2 tiger barbs at a time. There hasn't been any fin nipping what so ever but then again, it is only the first day. The fish so far seem fine and are happily swimming all over the tank Hopefuly I won't run into any big problems and I found some Amquel at a store called petland but it only treats Ammonia, clorine, chloramine, but not nitrites. I will keep my eye out for prime though.

I tried getting pictures of the barbs but they swim so fast D:

abc123d30

Here's the best pictures I could get...


Again, sorry for the bad quality.

bolivianbaby

They're beautiful! I love your substrate and your bonsai tree looks so neat!

redlessi

Wow, I have the same bonsai tree. It looks good in your tank.........

abc123d30

UPDATE: I added two more tiger barbs today. There isn't really any fin nipping but a lot of chasing is still goin on. I plan to add 2 more tiger barbs next week and hopefully some of the chasing will subside.

Also, tiger barbs should like blood worms right? I have some from my sister because she used to feed them to her betta when she had one. I figured the barbs would probably like them as well?

Diggly

My tiger barbs love blood worms so yes I am guessing they do!

abc123d30

This is really weird... the 2 newest tiger barbs always stay right next to the heater and almost never move unless one of the other tigers comes up and tries to chase them. I know it can't be because the temp is to low because it's at 77 degrees and the other tigers don't hang out over there. When I went to go feed them the original 2 barbs were scrambling for the food like they always do, eventually one of the barbs over by the heater came for some food but the other one just stayed there and didn't really move.
Does anybody know what could be going on?

jdhef

I would check to make sure my water parameters were good. Make sure you have ammonia=0, nitrites=0 and nitrates under 20

abc123d30

Yikes, I now see what the problem may be... ammonia is at 0.25
I guess when I added the last two barbs the tank went through some sort of mini cycle? I still don't really understand why they were hanging out near the heater though...

jdhef

I don't know why they would hang by the heater either, but generally when the fish do something out of character it always a good idea to check your water perameters.

abc123d30

Thanks for the help and advice jdhef.
Did a partial water change and added some Amquel. 1 of the newer fish seems a little better and will sometimes school with the other 2 now. The other fish has moved from the heater to right next to the filter and at first I thought he was stuck so I moved him but he just kinda drifted back next to the filter I really hope he gets better but he's looking worse and to be honest I don't think he's gonna make it.

abc123d30

One more question... can I use Tetra Aqua Safe and Amquel together or should these 2 not be put in the tank at the same time?

aquarist48

Hello ABC. Your fish and tank look great! I've never heard anything bad about mixing the two chemicals Amquel and Tetra Aqua Safe. I know when I set up my 26g tank, some Tetra Aqua Safe came with the set up and I used it along with my Amquel + (Didn't want to waste it so I used it no prblems) Check the directions on your bottles to make sure. (I use Nova Aqua for my stress reliever/slime coat.) When you run out of Amquel, look for Amquel +. That will take care of your nitrites as well.
You seem to be going through a mini cycle. Do a 30 to 50% daily water change, add your Amquel to detox the ammonia during the 24 hours until it's time for your next water change. Even though you've added the Amquel you may still get a reading of ammonia but not to worry. Continue with your daily water changes until your readings are back to 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 5-10 nitrates. Use the Amquel with every water change.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
Ken

jdhef

If you do switch to Amquel+, keep in mind that the API ammonia test will read false positive for ammonia. I don't think the non + version of Amquel has this incompatability, but I'm not sure.

antbfc

barbs are great fish!

abc123d30

I found the fishy dead today I feel so bad and guilty.
The other 2 are swimming around happily still and the one that was sorta schooling with them I can't find... I didn't really look around the tank much because I'm afraid to find him dead as well.

How come only 2 of the fish were effected by ammonia and not the other 2?


EDIT: I found the 3rd fish, alive He doesn't really like to school with the other 2 though, he kinda just hides.