How do i rehome my Tiger Barb?

[Koenator]

Bit of background:

I have 2 tanks, one is a 30 gallon community tank and one is a 10 gallon with just my barb in it. I cannot house my barb in the community because he is very aggressive, but cramping him into this 10 gallon is no good especially since he doesn’t have any other fish living in there with him. I want to get into fish breeding, but to do that I have to somehow find a new home for the barb. The only reason I have him is because my brother didn’t want him anymore and I thought he could play nice with my other fish. Nope. He nearly killed my guppy which I definitely could have seen coming, but what I didn’t see coming is that he is aggressive with ALL fish, not just longer finned ones. He attacked my mollies and platies as well, so I don’t know what to do with him.

I tried posting on craigslist, but the listing has been removed 3 times now for unknown reasons, and each time someone shows interest in the fish they just stop responding to my emails. I don’t know where else I can advertise him, does anyone have any suggestions? I don’t have the money to buy him more barbs and even if I did, a 10 gal isnt big enough. He is mature now and over 3 inches, quite a big boy.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Have you asked local fish stores near you if they can take him and rehome him with other barbs? They definitely need a group, and my lcal stores will take in fish like yours and find a home. Not all will, but call around and see!

 

[Koenator]

Have you asked local fish stores near you if they can take him and rehome him with other barbs? They definitely need a group, and my lcal stores will take in fish like yours and find a home. Not all will, but call around and see!

I have asked one and they said due to his size they can’t. I will try others, but is that the only option here? Is there no other website to advertise fish?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I have asked one and they said due to his size they can’t. I will try others, but is that the only option here? Is there no other website to advertise fish?

I'm not in the US, so can't recommend specific websites/places in the US, hopefully a US member like @Slaphppy7 or @Fishmanic can.


Check for FB fishkeeping groups too - but facebook has cracked down hard on any selling of live animals, so it can be tricky. Last I looked at groups in my area a couple of months ago, people could still advertise a fish for free for rehoming, but had to be very careful because of FB becoming so strict about livestock trading.

In your shoes, I would join fishkeeping groups in your area, FB again likely to be a good source - and might ask if anyone else already has a school of tiger barbs he can join, but I don't know if it would be easy for him to join a school that's already established in a tank, and he's the only newbie. Might be targeted for bullying by the whole established group.

While if he goes to a store then to a new home with a school of youngsters who are all entering a new tank with him, who haven't established a pecking order yet - like if he joins a young group from a store - I think the adjustment might be easier, since any aggression from him will be spread over a whole group so he can't dominate them all at once, while if he joins an established mature school, they might gang up on him. @Byron is good with this stuff, so if he has advice, I'd trust him!

 

[Koenator]

I'm not in the US, so can't recommend specific websites/places in the US, hopefully a US member like @Slaphppy7 or @Fishmanic can.


Check for FB fishkeeping groups too - but facebook has cracked down hard on any selling of live animals, so it can be tricky. Last I looked at groups in my area a couple of months ago, people could still advertise a fish for free for rehoming, but had to be very careful because of FB becoming so strict about livestock trading.

In your shoes, I would join fishkeeping groups in your area, FB again likely to be a good source - and might ask if anyone else already has a school of tiger barbs he can join, but I don't know if it would be easy for him to join a school that's already established in a tank, and he's the only newbie. Might be targeted for bullying by the whole established group.

While if he goes to a store then to a new home with a school of youngsters who are all entering a new tank with him, who haven't established a pecking order yet - like if he joins a young group from a store - I think the adjustment might be easier, since any aggression from him will be spread over a whole group so he can't dominate them all at once, while if he joins an established mature school, they might gang up on him. @Byron is good with this stuff, so if he has advice, I'd trust him!

This sounds good, I found a petco in my area that will take him. I believe you are right, he will be better off in a new school.