barbs violenty fighting

[Sefu]

2 Green Tiger barbs.

Lip Locking barbs, furiously pushing at each other, what is the meaning of this?

They meet on the left side of my tank, swim in circles, then BAM, they are at each other's lips and they are fighting.. this is very interesting... They push against each other, and the one who is able to push the most gets a nip at the stomach, this goes on for a while, and than they stop to chase around some other fish, and they are at again..

Swim in circles, lip lock, push, bit. Repeat..

I just notice this happening today, what could they be doing? it is rather entertaining to watch, but i hope they don't kill each other..

Explanation? Thanks!

 

[Mr Miagi]

I dont know what they are doin exactly but i do know barbs like the ones u have do better in larger groups of their own kind. About halfe a dozen maybe.

This way aggression towards each other and their tankates is reduced. They also look quite nice in a group. But this does depend on the size of your fish tank of course!

http/animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cypr.../grntigbarb.php

May give u some more info. They could be a breeding pair, i dunno???

 

[DannyBoy17]

This is what Tiger Barbs do, they are biters. I had 15 of them once and you see them doing this all the time.

By the way, they look STUNNING in gorups

 

[Sefu]

Sorry, forgot to add a bit of detail..

I have 10 Barbs -

4 Albino
3 Regular
3 Green

But just the two are fighting.. two green ones to be exact

 

[Max Action]

Mine do it when they are feeling friskiest. It's normal, I think, and doesn't seem to cause any harm. I suspect it's battling for dominance - they have a hierarchy and sometimes challenges are made. Take it as a good sign - your barbs are probably healthy!

 

[digital_run]

Barbs do the lip-locking spinning around motion as a way to sort out the pecking order in a group....These are completely harmless and healthy for your group...over time they will stop doing this as they will be an established pack.

 

[Sefu]

Can someone please explain the

"Pecking order"

Thanks for all your replies!! Appreciate it!!!

 

[DannyBoy17]

lol, ask WWW (WETWETWET)

 

[wetwetwet]

Pecking order - sorting out who is most dominant and who is least and who's inbetween - the more there is the less likly anyone get seriously hurt...



www

 

[wetwetwet]

lol, ask WWW (WETWETWET)

huh...why?



www

 

[DannyBoy17]

lol, ask WWW (WETWETWET)

huh...why?



www

Because you know everything, of course.

Plus, Isawyou were reading it too, and thought you'd give a much better answer.

 

[wetwetwet]

Because you know everything, of course.

Plus, Isawyou were reading it too, and thought you'd give a much better answer.

so far from the truth lol - I'm still learning (and forgetting )

the'Plus' makes more sense



www

 

[Grouchy]

The dominant males in my tank do this to, in addition to chasing each other into the plants before staking claim to the center of the tank.

Tiger barbs are goofy to watch.

 

[gwlee7]

I enjoy the tiger barb lipped-locked "square dance" too. It happens from time to time in my tiger tank as well. My whole pack will also get to chasing each other and playing follow the leader through my plants. It looks like they're on safari.

 

[Sefu]

I enjoy the tiger barb lipped-locked "square dance" too. It happens from time to time in my tiger tank as well. My whole pack will also get to chasing each other and playing follow the leader through my plants. It looks like they're on safari.

haha, that is so funny.