Bullies and glass surfing part 2

Backstory. I have really mean tiger barbs. I got 3 corys recently and they wouldn't stop glass surfing because every time they went to the floor, the tiger barbs would nip their tails. Just got 3 more today, I thought the schooling behavior would scale down aggression. Instead, all six corys are glass surfing.
20 gallon long
Edit: the tiger barbs don't school so they don't nip each other. Only the corys and the occasional (very rare) nip on my DG

 

Your tiger barbs aren't really mean. They'd likely be less bullyish in a larger tank with more barbs. They'd pick on each other and less often on other fish if they were in a larger school and a larger tank.

And the cories should settle down in a few days.

 

Your tiger barbs aren't really mean. They'd likely be less bullyish in a larger tank with more barbs. They'd pick on each other and less often on other fish if they were in a larger school and a larger tank.

And the cories should settle down in a few days.

Well the other corys were like that since I got them 4 days ago. These are now following their example. Still, thanks!

Your tiger barbs aren't really mean. They'd likely be less bullyish in a larger tank with more barbs. They'd pick on each other and less often on other fish if they were in a larger school and a larger tank.

And the cories should settle down in a few days.

How long before the barbs establish a pecking order? My dad just told me he doesn't like the way my tank looks with the corys up front. I don't know what to do. It's not that they are stressed, they keep getting nipped whenever they stop to rest on the floor. They're gonna get worked to death.

 

Can you upgrade to a 29 gal? Same stand, lid, etc., you might just need to add a second heater or filter (both of which you can do cheaply).

 

Can you upgrade to a 29 gal? Same stand, lid, etc., you might just need to add a second heater or filter (both of which you can do cheaply).

No way would my parents let me do that. I've tried.

 

How long before the barbs establish a pecking order? My dad just told me he doesn't like the way my tank looks with the corys up front. I don't know what to do. It's not that they are stressed, they keep getting nipped whenever they stop to rest on the floor. They're gonna get worked to death.

. That is a very... harsh comparison? It makes the barbs seem a lot worse then just fish. If I were you, I would rehome them and get a different fish.

 

. That is a very... harsh comparison? It makes the barbs seem a lot worse then just fish. If I were you, I would rehome them and get a different fish.

Oh I'm seeing how that sounds now... Whoops. I was thinking about it. I told my dad, and he said I should rehome the corys. He hates the way they look. We like the barbs. You know what I think the problem is? They've taken residence on the bottom, so when the corys go there, they get territorial.

 

You could rehome the cories and that would solve the issue.

 

That sucks. A lot. A feel really bad for the corys. By the way, if you do decide to replace the tiger barbs, I would go with rummynoses or either cardinal (or neon) tetras. Don't know a lot about cardinals or neons so I can't gurantee safe results for those two. Rummynoses should be okay.

Actually, what other fish do you have in your tank? That would help a lot.

 

Actually, what other fish do you have in your tank? That would help a lot.

6 corys
8 barbs
1 dwarf gourami

Rehomeing the corys won't do anything. The barbs are still aggressive. I love them, but they are butts. I don't think the corys are in pain, they just know that if they get off the glass, the barbs will go for them, so they don't. The barbs have chosen weird territoryon the bottom. Is there a way to change that that doesn't include rearranging everything? What if I grabbed a Tupperware, put the barbs in dechlorinatied water for a few minutes and reintroduced them? How good is their memory?

 

I don't think it'll help unless you change the decor. And rehoming the cories would help, as it would prevent them from being nipped.

 

I don't think it'll help unless you change the decor. And rehoming the cories would help, as it would prevent them from being nipped.

AHHH. I'm so angry. At what point do I need to give up on a peaceful resolution? I can't deal with this. I just want the barbs to stay up in the middle and corys stay on the bottom. Is there a way to punish the barbs? Lol

 

I heard there were some stories about punishing guppies and platies... You can probably find some on fishlore. You also might want to start a new thread.

 

Your tiger barbs aren't really mean. They'd likely be less bullyish in a larger tank with more barbs. They'd pick on each other and less often on other fish if they were in a larger school and a larger tank.

And the cories should settle down in a few days.

Then how come I've had my Cory for two years, but she has never stopped

 

I don't think it'll help unless you change the decor. And rehoming the cories would help, as it would prevent them from being nipped.

I think the problem would be solved if only the tiger barbs would school. They'd take out their anger on each other instead of the Corys. How do I speed up the pecking order?

 

I don't think you can. To be honest, I think the best thing to do would be to remove the tiger barbs and give the corys some rest. Of course I don't know much about tiger barbs so I can be completely wrong.

 

I don't think you can. To be honest, I think the best thing to do would be to remove the tiger barbs and give the corys some rest. Of course I don't know much about tiger barbs so I can be completely wrong.

I'm gonna give it a week. If it still happens, I'll take them back. I have an idea. Petco takes back fish, right? What if I exchanged these barbs for 8 more so that they are the new guys?

 

I honestly don't know. I'm not sure how tiger barb behavior works. And if you are going to wait that long before you return them, try giving the corys some rest. Are they sleeping? Do the tiger barbs chase them away at night or are they asleep? And if you strategy does work, can't you just remove the tiger barbs, change the landscape a bit, and reintroduce them?

 

I'm gonna give it a week. If it still happens, I'll take them back. I have an idea. Petco takes back fish, right? What if I exchanged these barbs for 8 more so that they are the new guys?

You could try. But they occupy the middle to bottom parts of the tanks where I work too. Tiger barbs are tiger barbs.

 

I honestly don't know. I'm not sure how tiger barb behavior works. And if you are going to wait that long before you return them, try giving the corys some rest. Are they sleeping? Do the tiger barbs chase them away at night or are they asleep? And if you strategy does work, can't you just remove the tiger barbs, change the landscape a bit, and reintroduce them?

No, at night time they are left alone. I awake in the morning to find some corys resting.

 

Okay then, at least they get some rest. Are they stressed out at all? Try monitoring them for signs of stress.

 

Okay then, at least they get some rest. Are they stressed out at all? Try monitoring them for signs of stress.

Like what? Ironically, I just fed them and during feeding time, the barbs left them alone for a slight moment

 

I'm not sure what to look out for. I've never been in this situation before. But I do know that you have to monitor for stress. Maybe google can tell you.

 

God, my dad said this tank is giving him high blood pressure, it's too chaotic .

 

Now, that's a coincidence. You know what a side effect of watching a fish tank is? Lower blood pressure. BOOM.

 

Now, that's a coincidence. You know what a side effect of watching a fish tank is? Lower blood pressure. BOOM.

Exactly that's what he said. (He hates these corys glass surfing)

 

Actually, I mean lower blood pressure. That's good.

 

Actually, I mean lower blood pressure. That's good.

Seriously, I have no clue what to do.

 

Although after watching the video I can see how it increases blood pressure. The best thing to do would be to rehome the tiger barbs tbh. I know that it doesn't seem the most convenient, but in the end, you'll have a tank that you and your dad can be proud of.

 

Although after watching the video I can see how it increases blood pressure. The best thing to do would be to rehome the tiger barbs tbh. I know that it doesn't seem the most convenient, but in the end, you'll have a tank that you and your dad can be proud of.

I know, but it's our favorite fish . I might replace them with more tiger barbs. I want to see if @TexasDomed thinks that'll work

 

Wow, that just made it so much more complicated. I guess try adding more tiger barbs so that they'll bully each other instead of the corys? If I were in your situation, I would have given up already. Maybe look for a different species that look like tiger barbs?

 

Wow, that just made it so much more complicated. I guess try adding more tiger barbs so that they'll bully each other instead of the corys? If I were in your situation, I would have given up already. Maybe look for a different species that look like tiger barbs?

Lol. Stocking wise, I can't add more tiger barbs. I'm gonna give it a week. I am going to bed. Thanks for all the help

 

Your welcome and the best of luck to you.

 

You could rehome the corys, if you prefer the tiger barbs you might as well have one or the other.

 

If it were me I would rehome one or the other asap. Keep in mind if you keep the tiger barbs it could limit what else you can put in the tank. Maybe you could make it a species tank with only tiger barbs? That would be a great looking tank I bet.

Edit. Look up tiger barbs species tanks on uTube, see what you think. They do look nice.

 

AHHH. I'm so angry. At what point do I need to give up on a peaceful resolution? I can't deal with this. I just want the barbs to stay up in the middle and corys stay on the bottom. Is there a way to punish the barbs? Lol

That's not a good attitude to have. They're doing what they have evolved to do. It would help if you increased their tank size and got more barbs, but since you can't do that and this isn't working, I'd rehome either them or the DG and cories.

Then how come I've had my Cory for two years, but she has never stopped

Do you only have one cory? That would be why. They're social and need to be in large groups. Your single cory is stressed.

I think the problem would be solved if only the tiger barbs would school. They'd take out their anger on each other instead of the Corys. How do I speed up the pecking order?

You can't.

 

I tried corys in my 20 hex tank with a group of tiger barbs (mixed bunch of green, albino and regular). It's tall enough to give the barbs plenty of mid and top water space, but they pestered the corys constantly. They weren't nippy or aggressive, but since they are such pigs, they would follow the corys and eat up all the bits of food before the corys would get it.

I couldn't take it any longer, even though the fish were all fine, and set up a dedicated 20H tank for the corys, although the BN pleco that they share the tank with is becoming a bit of a butthead and claims every morsel of food for himself whether he can possibly eat it or not.

I also have a bristlenose in the tiger barb tank, but that's a completely different dynamic and the barbs pay him no attention and he won't give the barbs the time of day.

Tiger barbs are great fish - I really love my little bunch of thugs, but they are incessantly active and wrestle and chase each other often. The only time I could keep them in line is when I temporarily had a good size Firemouth cichlid in there. She wouldn't take any guff from the barbs, otherwise she was a sweetheart.

Chris

 

Can you give us an update on how the tiger barbs are behaving? Is it any better?

 

Can you give us an update on how the tiger barbs are behaving? Is it any better?

I don't know. They are still glass surfing. When the lights are out and during feeding time, I noticed a few of the corys on the ground. Idk

 

I agree with Daniel. Rehome the Tigers. If they aren't kept in the right way (too small tank / too small scholl) they will stay a pain towards all kind of species.
Glasssurfing of Corys can last for 2 weeks (even without Tigers). Albinos are famous for it.