Pleco died....Tiger barbs killed him?

infynite · August 20th, 2008

This morning....my pleco died. I have seen the tigers nipping at him, but I was not truly concerned because he naturally tries to avoid them. My tank pH, ammonia, and nitrates level are normal. Do anyone think that the six tigers killed it? He was just a bit bigger than the tigers barbs, but never defended himself.

Amanda · August 20th, 2008

It may have been the stress that killed him.

Barbrella · August 20th, 2008

What are your exact nitrite, amm. and nitrate readings?

I"m wondering if your tank is really cycled. Tiger barbs are well able to survive a cycling tank, but a pleco may not be.

Did you provide the pleco with hiding places, in the form or driftwood etc? What was he being fed, and what kind of pleco was it?

ETA: Most plecos are not equipped to defend themselves against attacks by aggressive fish. Slow-moving fish, or fish with trailing fins are likely to be targeted by Tiger barbs.

infynite · August 21st, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbrella

What are your exact nitrite, amm. and nitrate readings?

I"m wondering if your tank is really cycled. Tiger barbs are well able to survive a cycling tank, but a pleco may not be.

Did you provide the pleco with hiding places, in the form or driftwood etc? What was he being fed, and what kind of pleco was it?

ETA: Most plecos are not equipped to defend themselves against attacks by aggressive fish. Slow-moving fish, or fish with trailing fins are likely to be targeted by Tiger barbs.

i had a bristlenose. No, my tank is not cycled yet. My nitrate readings: 5.0, ph:7.0, amm: .5. I dont have a nitrite tester. I do have a few hiding places in my tank. It seemed stressed at certain times. I just have to wait until my tank cycle to get another one.

COBettaCouple · August 21st, 2008

It probably was water chemistry issues, since the tank isn't cycled. I'd use Prime to treat all water and do daily 35-50% water changes until the tank is cycled.

Barbrella · August 21st, 2008

Your uncycled tank killed your bristlenose. That's why it was stressed.

You need to not add any fish until your nitrIte and ammonia are consistantly reading zero. You need to be doing partial water changes until this happens.

Barbs seem nearly immune to nitrites and ammonia, but just a trace of either is often enough to kill other types of fish.

infynite · August 21st, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbrella

Your uncycled tank killed your bristlenose. That's why it was stressed.

You need to not add any fish until your nitrIte and ammonia are consistantly reading zero. You need to be doing partial water changes until this happens.

Barbs seem nearly immune to nitrites and ammonia, but just a trace of either is often enough to kill other types of fish.

Thanks....I will do the water changes until my readings are zero for ammonia and nitrites.

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