Michele89

I had a tiger barb die a few months ago and when I had a closer look his tail fin was gone. Two nights ago I looked over at my tank at barbs was swimming pointed down. I had a look and saw his tail was gone! I put him in my partner's tank which has guppies in it. I was worried that he would attack them but I think he's too slow at the moment. What should I do about this repeat offender beating up the other fish? I have a tank of 8 barbs so I didn't think being lonely was a problem. There are only two big ones in the tank including 'Stumpy'. Everything I've read about fin nipping says that they generally do it because there is only a few fish. Do I just have a bully?

iloveengl

Hello Michele

Jeeze, I'm sorry about your fish. That's awful.
What size is your tank?
How many are in the tank?
Have you tested the water's paramters: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?

Aggression can also be caused by fish feeling cramped and from spikes in the water params., so having the info above would be really helpful for us to provide you with more exact answers.

Jaysee

What is your m/f ratio? When I started to get agression issues in my TB species tank, because the young males were reaching maturity, I added a couple big mature females and all was well. I've found it's important to have them - they maintain order and can better handle advances from the males. It's good to have more females than males, like most other fish.

Also, what size tank and tankmates?

On the other hand, it's entirely possible you have a bully in which case I suggest giving the problem fish back to the store and maybe you can get another in return.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!! answering some of iloveengl's questions can help us help you more...I just want to caution that putting an sick fish thats been nipped in with guppies, will probably result in more nipping as guppies are as big of fin nipping as barbs..id put him in a breeder net asap to help him not get picked on ..good luck!

bolivianbaby

Welcome to Fishlore! Great information and advice above.

Michele89

I have 8 barbs. Only two fully grown. Most are only an inch long. The tank is 25L. Is it possible that is overcrowded? I'm not really sure how to tell male/female with the albinos and green moss. I have 1 albino, 3 green moss (including Stumpy), two females and a big male.
Also one of my females changes colours a lot. She looks normal but very quickly she changes and is a deep red with black fins. My Husband and I joke she is grumpy. I thought it would pass and it was just her maturing but she had been doing it since I got her. At least 6 month.

Michele89

I had no idea that guppies were nippers. Thanks so much for the warning! I'll have to move him when I get home. They haven't been payin Stumpy too much attention but the last thing he needs is being bullied again!

Jaysee

Especially by guppies. If the other tiger barbs ever found out....

iloveengl

Do you mean 25 liters (ie ~6 gallons) or 25 gallon Long?

aquarist48

http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-TigerBarb.htm

Hello Michele. The above link may help you a bit concerning Tiger Barbs.

Too here is a link to the nitrogen cycle which is crucial to fish keeping. In post #2 Ilovee mentioned the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings and this is why. These readings tell us where your nitrogen cycle stands, or if your tank is cycled or not or if your tank is going through a mini cycle.
The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

Best of luck and by all means keep us posted. I'm sorry you're having some problems but hopefully it will get better soon.
Ken

Michele89

25 Litre so I guess that is 6 gallons.

Stumpy could never live it down if the other barbs found out he was getting picked on by GUPPIES!!! I'll have to toughen him up. Maybe I'll make him a tiny leather jacket!

Jaysee

Yeah, the small space is what is causing the aggression. There's nothing you can do to prevent this from getting worse, short of buying at LEAST a 20 gallon. Even then you may run into aggression issues as the fish mature. A 29 is a better suited to a tiger barb species tank.

Michele89

I thought that might be it.
Is there a reason one of my females keeps changing colour? It's the strangest thing. I'll try and get a photo of her in a 'good' and 'bad' mood.