Fish Dead, Other's Don't Look Good

[cegha]

Tank size:10 gallon
pH:unknown
ammonia:just did an ammonia test, it skyrocted from like .5 or so ppm last night to about 1-2ppm today.
nitrite:unknown
nitrate:unknown
kH:unknown
gH:unknown
tank temp: ~79-80

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Came home and 1 fish was dead, and another was chasing the other 2 around the tank.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:at least 1 partial water change per day

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:none

Tank inhabitants:4 (now 3) tiger barbs

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):none

Exposure to chemicals:none that i know of

Digital photo (include if possible):

I just came home to find one of my tiger barbs dead. Looking into the tank i saw one of them chasing the other two around the tank. I went over and tapped on the glass to make him stop. As soon as i sat down he was back at it.

I now seperated him from the other two. He's sitting in a round bowl, and he is constantly pushing against the bowl, and looks mad/spastic.

One of them is floating near the top of the water, and the other is hiding down at the bottom near a plant.

 

[chibi]

It's probably from the ammonia. The shock of it rising so quickly probably made your living tiger barbs go spastic. Look for ammonia-removing chemicals at your LFS, and see what other people say on how to lower it. What kind of filter do you have?

 

[cegha]

it was a filter system thing i got from walmart, brand name is "Aquatech Power Filter".

Both are floating around near the top now, not doing much moving.

I think it was either a ammonia spike, or the one spastic one caused too much stress for him.

 

[WILDER]

That tank size is to small for barbs really, and they will be aggressive as there not in a big group six or more.
How long as the tank been set up.
Water changes to get that ammonia reading down, and try and increase aeration in the tank.
If you just have barbs in the tank i would add a tablespoon of salt to help with the high ammonia reading.

 

[cegha]

i added the fish on the 12th, and the tank has been running since the 7th.

I have been watching them and there hasn't been any fighting or anything.

Add a tablespoon of table salt?

Do a full water change or partial?

 

[WILDER]

No don't do a full water change the cycle will take for ever.
20% water change don't touch the gravel till it has cycled.
Invest in a master test kit as you need one with a cycling tank.
Why the salt as it help them during a cycle it protects the gills, as they have to go through the ammonia and nitrite process, it likes living in a toilet.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=58

 

[cegha]

what should i do with the one tiger barb that was chasing the others.

He's still sitting in the like large sized bowl i got for him.

I don't want to put him back in there and have him chasing the other's around all night and all tomorrow when im gone at school.

 

[QuotheRaven]

Thats what Tiger Barbs do Im afraid cegha they chase each other forever and ever and ever ect. The larger the group and larger the tank the safer your barbs will be as the aggression is spread out and not two going at each other till death do them part. The bowl does it have a filter and heater?

 

[cegha]

no, i did a water change, and let the water sit in the tank for about an hour, dumped the water out of his bowl and put him back in the tank, and he started like acting ok for like 5 mins, then he was back at chasing the other two around the tank, so i scooped some water out the tank and put him back in the bowl.

I guess im going to have to leave him in there for tonight, and figure out something else come tomorrow.

Edit: when all 4 were alive in the tank, i was constantly watching them, and there was no fighting or anything. Today everything went downhill, the one fish died, the other 2 look not super lively, and the other one when hes in the tank chases them around.

 

[QuotheRaven]

well the thing is Cegha thats what they do....you cannot stop it and I kept 3 tiger barbs and they all chased each other but they were fine...essentially if you do not like them chasing each other I'd say return them as they will persist for a long long time