Barbs Behaviour

[abz311]

Hi there,

Right I'll go through the tanks info first:

Tank size: 180ltrs
pH: 6.7
ammonia: 0
nitrite:0.5
nitrate:25
kH:50
gH:50-125
tank temp:26

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

25% every other day for the past week since I picked up on the ammonia spike

Over the past month I have bought 50 small fish (mainly neon tetra) for my 180ltr tank, I have 4 green tiger barbs. 2 of which are just hanging along the top of the tank which keep popping their heads up to the surface of the water. They both keep hanging at the top, secluded by plants and are not eating. The other two are fine...swimming around the whole tank and behaving normally. I have to admit I did have a small spike in ammonia, but it has been over a week and the issue has been resolved. And a spike in nitrate this week which I have also addressed by doing more frequent water changes. I have noticed this behaviour for around a week now. Could anyone explain how I can fix this issue if possible.

Also I have noticed my tiger barbs and the green barbs doing 'headstand', pointing almost vertically down and staying there...is this normal.

Please help.

Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

It's possible the barb's gills have been damaged by the high ammonia and are finding it hard to get enough oxygen.

Tigers (the green barbs are the same species, just a man made colour form) will headstand if there is any trace of nitrite in the water; they sometimes do it a submissive posture, but as you do have nitrite, i would guess that being the cause.

There's not really a lot you can do apart from water changes; your aim should be to stop both ammonia and nitrite going above 0.25ppm before your next water change.

 

[laura120381]

hi there,

my tiger barbs do this as well. especially after feeding time. I am not sure why they do it. they seem otherwise healthy (and always hungry. I have noticed them doing the whole 'headstanding' thing during the night so perhaps this is a 'resting psition.' i too would be interested to find out exactly why they do this! in the meantime, i guess we can take comfort in the fact our barbs are not the only ones that do this!!

L

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, they do 'sleep' like that too.

I forgot to say; OP, 50 fish sounds like quite a lot; can you list exactly what you have please?

 

[abz311]

Many thanks for your reply, I guess now i can stop worrying and carry on with the water changes...(would it be advisable to carry our daily water changes)

The fish I have in my 180 ltr tank are:

4 Red dimond barb
3 Tiger barb green (1 died while writing)
4 Tiger barb striped
22 neon tetra
2 rainbow shark
6 Gold cloud minnow
6 Leopard Danio
6 Sissor tail

 

[laura120381]

i reckon it is better to keep barbs in groups of 6+ to cut down aggression. not sure you have room to up the numbers though??

L.

 

[fluttermoth]

No, space is limited...I have two dozen tigers, and even with that number there's usually a female or two that gets her tail completely chewed off in spawning season

 

[abz311]

tbh i don't really find that the barbs are aggressive to others, they do seem to play with themselves though. Just to let you know both green barbs have died.

Now looking at the number of barbs I have; Will they be okay together or should I go and buy a few more to bring up the individual numbers. The tank does look empty and I have been very tempted to add some more fish to the collective!

Also I have now been doing 25% water changes daily for the past couple of day and I'm finding that the nitrate and nitrite levels are not reducing from the numbers mentioned above...Ammonia is still 0....Confused ...Any suggestions...

 

[Jinty McGinty]

Up your water change to 50% your nitrite is killing them.

Don't add any more fish till your water is stable.