casedude21

I have a small 10 gallon community tank. Originally I had 4 neon tetras in it, then later on I added 2 tiger barbs. For the first few days everything was going well, they were only aggressive during feeding time but that was the usual "feeding frenzy" aggression, no big deal. But then more recently one of the tigers has become much more aggressive toward the other (but not the neons). I went to petsmart where I bought them to see if I could find a solution. I was told to buy a third tiger, because with even numbers they will just pair off and kill eachother. I did so and eventually added the third into the tank. They all seemed fine for a while, checking eachother out, nothing bad. But then the same aggressive barb kept attacking both of the other two barbs (again, not the neons). I'm not sure what to do at this point. I took the aggressive one out and put it back in the quarantine tank. Now the two more submissive barbs are fine together and with the neons. I'm just not sure what to do with the aggressive one. I can't return it, because I don't have that original recept.
The reason I got the neons and tiger barbs to start out the tank is because back when my dad was still alive when I was younger we had a tank with tigers and neons and a few other fish. I just don't remember how they were together. But again, all barbs are different, the two in the main tank are fine together, its just this one bully. I'm just stumped. Please give me some suggestions if you have them.
Thanks

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!

most agression with barbs is because they are schooling fish and to keep the agression down, they need to be in 5 or more ...that keeps them busy and seems to keep the nipping to a minimum....but your tank isnt big enough for more with the neons also...and in a 10 gal with a school of barbs, they could turn on your neons because of lack of space....so either give the bully to a pet store, (most will take anything for free) or check out craigslist.org for some really cool spring sales that alot are selling right now...then you can up the barb count and still keep the neons safe also..goodluck !

casedude21

Yea, I gotta figure out what I'm going to do. Like I said the 2 more submissive tigers are in the main tank with the tetras and I'm having no problem. I have to consider a few options. I could just take the aggressive one back to the store without a refund since i don't have the recept. Or I could take all 3 tigers back (but I'd feel bad doing that) and just to a tetra community.