JohnDyer
Fish Crazy
I'm starting to rethink my tank. The planned centerpiece, 4 Apistogrammas cacatuoides, have all died off. I went of vacation a week after buying them, and by the time I came back one of the females had died. I'm not sure why, but I suspect hunger, as I left only 1 small 7 day feeder for a 12 day vacation. The other female died shortly afterwards, Then the larger male killed the smaller. I thought a single male would be fine, and he survived for another several months, but died yesterday.
Also, on a whim last week, I bought an additional 2 guppies and a dwarf gourami. One of the new guppies died within the day, and the other was fine. For whatever reason my other two guppies, who have been around since the tank finished cycling a year ago, suddenly stopped swimming on Friday, and were dead within hours.
I'm not certain, but I suspect the biggest reason is that my tiger barbs eat all of the food. After observing the fish for many hours on several occasions, I have never seen the barbs nip at any other fish. They are, however, EXTREMELY aggressive feeders, and will eat all the food I pour in before it even reaches the bottom. Neon Tetras can handle themselves while feeding, and guppies eat at the surface, but the Apistos and Gourami have a difficult time. On to of that, the Apistos never ate food that reached the bottom, so when I try to feed extra they barely get any. Plus the male - male aggression was strong, which is completely my fault, as I bought 2 pairs because it was cheaper than 1-3
So pretty much, as much as a love my tiger barbs, my absolute favorite fish in the tank, I think they have to go. I'm not sure how I can keep them from outcompeting the slower fish for food. Either that, or I can purchase another tank for them, although with school starting again I'm not sure how much time I can devote to it. It's a major shame, I really do like them, but I'm not sure what else to do.
That will leave a big hole in my stocking, and I'm not sure how to fill it. With the tigers gone, I'll be down to 8 Neon Tetras, a guppy, a gourami, and 3 shrimp. Any advice on a nice schooling fish? I have gravel, so no cories, not that I particularly like them. I'm also looking for a new centerpiece.
Sorry if this isn't particularly coherent, I'm quite tired.
EDIT: Water quality has been good this whole time. I did get a touch of ammonia yesterday, less than 0.25 ppm, but I think that was from the fish dying, and it went away with a WC.
Also, on a whim last week, I bought an additional 2 guppies and a dwarf gourami. One of the new guppies died within the day, and the other was fine. For whatever reason my other two guppies, who have been around since the tank finished cycling a year ago, suddenly stopped swimming on Friday, and were dead within hours.
I'm not certain, but I suspect the biggest reason is that my tiger barbs eat all of the food. After observing the fish for many hours on several occasions, I have never seen the barbs nip at any other fish. They are, however, EXTREMELY aggressive feeders, and will eat all the food I pour in before it even reaches the bottom. Neon Tetras can handle themselves while feeding, and guppies eat at the surface, but the Apistos and Gourami have a difficult time. On to of that, the Apistos never ate food that reached the bottom, so when I try to feed extra they barely get any. Plus the male - male aggression was strong, which is completely my fault, as I bought 2 pairs because it was cheaper than 1-3
So pretty much, as much as a love my tiger barbs, my absolute favorite fish in the tank, I think they have to go. I'm not sure how I can keep them from outcompeting the slower fish for food. Either that, or I can purchase another tank for them, although with school starting again I'm not sure how much time I can devote to it. It's a major shame, I really do like them, but I'm not sure what else to do.
That will leave a big hole in my stocking, and I'm not sure how to fill it. With the tigers gone, I'll be down to 8 Neon Tetras, a guppy, a gourami, and 3 shrimp. Any advice on a nice schooling fish? I have gravel, so no cories, not that I particularly like them. I'm also looking for a new centerpiece.
Sorry if this isn't particularly coherent, I'm quite tired.
EDIT: Water quality has been good this whole time. I did get a touch of ammonia yesterday, less than 0.25 ppm, but I think that was from the fish dying, and it went away with a WC.
