ambientchica

i have two cherry barbs and now 2 tiger barbs in a 2 gallon explorer tank (yes I know im both stocked and should have saved a bit and gone with a 10 gal).

My new tiger barbs were great the first day but now the second day one of the tiger barbs is getting picked on and hiding at the top of the tank behind the filter. should i exchange the one tiger, try for another and hope for the best or would it be better to find better tank mates for my cherry barbs?

any help appreciated for a new fishtank novice!

Harley

Well tiger barbs and cherry barbs are schooling fish in groups of 5-6 other wise they just fight but...they also do fight the first few days to establish a "pecking order" so i would give it a few days then if there still fighting try something like a timeout! siriously they worked for me, catch the fish in a net hold the net to the side of the tank and change the decor in the tank around! if this doesnt work buy a breeders net and put the fish in it for a couple days and when it is put free it will have forgoten about the pecking order! and...(yes there is still more!) if nothing workes you should trade for a different fish!

ambientchica

hey thanks for this! I ended up getting a diamond tetra and some kind of "strawberry fish". I am so glad for your signature or I would have NEVER have known about tattooed fish. I avoided a purchase of one thanks to you. Im now concerned that my fish is dyed now though since I cant seem to figure out what it is... At least it is not tattooed.

Harley

what does the fish look like?

ambientchica

it's a glassy tetra. i went into the store today and asked them what the heck it was since "strawberry" fish of any sort don't seem to exist.

the fish seems to being doing okay but is definitely more sensitive than my others.

Harley

Its good that the fish is doing fine!

darkwolf29a

I have found that the more barbs you have the better. 5, IMO, is a minimum or one will be picked on more.