Barb Down ...

[fishprotector]

Last night I noticed that one of my larger male Black Ruby Barbs had a frayed Dorsal fin. I did not think much of it as I have seen it before and it normally grows back within a few weeks. Anyway, I get home from work today to find the same fish looking utterly mauled. Its fin was worse and it had what can only be descried as small chunks missing out of its body. It looked like something had tried to take chunks out of it. I am thinking little mouths rather than big mouths as although the Dorsal fin was damaged, it was not missing and I reckon that it would be missing if a large mouth tried to bite it. It was struggling to swim and stay up right. I quickly set up my hospital tank, but it died before I could move it.

Tank parameters are good. It is a well cycled 300 litre, Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = <20.

I have three theories:

1) The other barbs (I had 15) saw a weak target and bullied it.

2) One of the larger tankmates (6" Ellioti, 5" Belem Severum, 3" Jack Dempsey, 3" Jewel or possibly one of the Plecos) decided to attack it. I know that this is very plausable given the nature of some of these fish, but please note that I spend a couple of hours a day watching the fish and I have never seen any of the others as much as look at the barbs.

3) Disease.

What do you guys think?? These are my favourite shoaling fish and I am really upset

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

Ive seen many JD attack barbs on certain occassions, but as you said youve watched them for a long time and nothing like this ever happened. But I believe it was the JD because they have a reputation of being calm and all of a sudden snapping, however some fish can sense when a fish is sick or dying and constantly attack it to get rid of it. Brutal but its in every fish to get rid of the sick. hope this helps

 

[colleen0309]

I would also be inclined to blame the JD. Beautiful fish, but a bit on the nasty side sometimes.

 

[fishprotector]

Thanks guys, you are probably right. I will keep my eye on the rest of them. I had just been to the LFS on the way home and bought another 3 Barbs to go with them so the numbers are still high. I just hope that it is an isolated incident...