Barbs not eating during tank cycle

Hi,

I am setting up my first 30 gallon tank. I decided to use 3 tiger barbs, for nitrogen cycle. I have 2 issues.

1. When I feed them, they are not seeing the Tetramin flakes. When the flakes finally brakes in filter current and goes down, they hardly see the flakes, and if they see they eat it otherwise they never seem to get it. How can I get them to eat all the food that I feed.

2. I read that it is important not to overfeed during cycling. So what should be the amount and frequency of the feeding for 3 barbs in a 30 gallon tank during cycle.

Thanks,
Alex.

 

Hi, Alex.

1) How long have the barbs been in the tank? It is not uncommon for newly purchased fish to be uninterested in eating for a couple of days after purchase.

2) Overfeeding is a big problem at any time, but especially so during a cycle. A proper starting point for feeding would be no more than 1-2 flakes per fish, once or twice per day. If flakes are not being eaten and are making it to the bottom of the tank, then cut back.

 

Thanks Sgould. It is just a first day, may be I just wait and watch for couple more days.
-Alex.

 

How are those barbs doing now?

 

I'd keep an eye on them - I bought three tiger barbs too, and two of them ate all the food and the other refused to eat. He died today, 10 days after I bought him and 10 days of refusing his food. Poor thing

Keep a check that they're all getting a fair amount. And yeah... if there is always spare food, cut back.

 

I find that whenever I started with 3 tiger barbs one always got picked on now I have 5 and everyone gets along. consider adding 2 more and they will be little monsters with the eating. mine actually launch themselves out of the water going after food its great lol. Hooray for tight fitting hoods :

 

Thanks for all suggestions. I tried dropping flakes right at the place where they are, and once they saw it they are eating like crazy. All of them are eating well now. They really are little hungry monsters . I am feeding them twice a day about 2 flakes per fish, but it seems less for them, as they finish the food in less than 10 seconds. Is it ok to increase the amount during cycling? How do I find the limit for the feeding. Also, do I need to vary their diet or is it ok to feed the Tetramin flakes as long as they like it.

Another problem in one of them is really bossy, initially I thought they are trying to form rank. I have one female and two males. The two males used to fight. Now one male just keep chasing the other male and the female, especially after meal. Can I do something so that they all become one happy family.

 

Glad they are eating better! You can increase the amount a very little bit if you feel you need to, but keep in mind when it comes to food...FISH ARE LIARS!!! ;D They will act like they are starving to death when they are getting plenty, so don't let them con you into overfeeding. It's not good for them and can cause water quality and algae problems in the tank.

As to the behavior, tiger barbs are notorious nippers and bullies. The best way to control it is to keep them in groups of 6 or more. This does two things...1) it tends to keep the focus of their energy internal to their own group, making life easier on any tank mates you are planning on adding. 2) within the group of barbs, more members means the aggression is spread around so that no one or two individuals are the sole recipients and get bullied to death.

 

bullying definitely will continue until the death unless you get a couple more. I find that a nice balance is 5. I have 5 in my 10 gallon and the water quality is awesome (ammonia 0 nitrite0 nitrate 10 ph 7) I do a water change and gravel cleaning bi-weekly. Best wishes and think about adding definitely 2 more tigers. It doesn't matter whether they are the standard ones the green ones or the albino ones they don't discriminate lol and it adds variation to the tank.

 

Yeah, I was thinking about adding two albino tigers, but is it a good idea when the cycle is still going on. I have 3, 1" barbs, which is recommended for 10 gallon tank.

I am getting the handle of feeding too. If I put too much flakes, they finish it, but they don't bother the small flakes that are left over from bites. So I feed 2 flakes at a time, and put next 2 when they completely finish it.

 

their max size is 2.5 inches but it takes a while for them to grow that big and they really do better in groups of 5 or more if there still small then you will be ok and by the time they grow up your bio load will have adjusted. I have 5 in my 10 gallon tank with a blue crayfish and never had a water problem and only had bullying problems when they were in a group of 3. if they are only one inch fish then you are still under the one inch of fish per gallon by 5inches so by the time they do get too big your MTS (multI tank syndrome) will have kicked in . I say go for it and get a bigger tank down the road.

Mark