Odessa Barbs

[Musahi]

Hi, didn't know where I should post this question, but as I'm new to fish keeping I thought this was the best section in the forum. As my first fish I've introduced 4 odessa barbs to my tank, as advised because they are a hardy, friendly species. However, I am finding one to be bullying the other three. He chases after them and they are cowering away hiding in/behind ornaments and plants. Whenever they come out, he's there bullying instantly. The bullied three are looking pale, whereas the bully is very bright. I only got them today and was wondering if this will settle down, or am I going to have to do something about it? Have I got too few maybe? My tank is 48 litres. I have arranged plants into a corner to give the bullied ones somewhere to hide and get a break. They also have a barrell ornament they can hide in. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks so much.

Ilana

 

[Skins]

I would up your numbers to 6. I currently have six and now and again there will be some kind of chasing. the not so bright ones may well be females as the males have that lovely striking red colour to them.

Keith.

 

[Musahi]

I would up your numbers to 6. I currently have six and now and again there will be some kind of chasing. the not so bright ones may well be females as the males have that lovely striking red colour to them.

Keith.

Hi Keith thanks for answering. Yeah I thought as much. They're all males, I specifically asked for all males as I like their colouring best. Made sure it was bright ones put in the bag. That's how i know their paleness is for real and not because they're females. Ok, I guess it'll be another 1 and a half hour drive to pets at home in oban. I live in the highlands of Scotland so shops are minimal lol. Thanks.

Ilana

 

[Musahi]

Well, very unhappy. Went back to Pets at Home today in Oban (I live in Fort William so this is an hour and a half drive for me). Saw the guy who sold me the 4 Odessa Barb fish. Told him that one is bullying the other three and that I had looked online at various fact sheets and asked in here, which all concluded that Odessa Barb's should be in a shoal of no less than 5. He said to me that this isn't true, and that the internet gives very conflicting information. I told him that he's the only one who's being conflicting. He said it's nonsense, that he himself has 4 Odessa Barb's and they're all fine together. So, he refused to listen and refused to sell me one or two more. He was arrogant and argumentative, and his customer care was appalling. I got another ornament (an urn with holes in it) and another fake plant. They now have four places they can hide: Behind a corner set up of live plants, behind a corner set up of a rock and fake plant, in a barrel with holes ornament and in the urn ornament). They are able to hide well, but in the meantime they are still being bullied and chased by the one bully. Really upset that because of this arrogant salesman these 3 are still having to suffer

 

[Skins]

Oh, sorry to hear that. I would have demanded to speak to the manager. Fort William hey, that brings back fond memories of climbing the Ben.
How are your odessa barbs today?

Keith.

 

[Musahi]

Oh, sorry to hear that. I would have demanded to speak to the manager. Fort William hey, that brings back fond memories of climbing the Ben.
How are your odessa barbs today?

Keith.

I think he was the manager Can see the Ben right outside my window. Beautiful. It's a beautiful area, just not a lot of specialist places around, meaning you have to travel to Inverness or Oban. The Odessa's are still the same. They're all colourful now and don't seem too timid from the bullying. But the bullying is still going on. The other 3 hide and he patrols constantly. As soon as any come out of hiding he's onto them. It's such a shame.

Ilana

 

[Musahi]

Ok, the situation is rapidly getting worse. Two fish now are hiding behind the heater and are tilted to one side..not completely on their side or belly up, just tilted a bit. And their fins are like rapidly twitching and fluttering. The bully fish keeps nipping at them and chasing them until they can hide once again. Not sure what to do anymore

 

[Jamepsss]

Ok, the situation is rapidly getting worse. Two fish now are hiding behind the heater and are tilted to one side..not completely on their side or belly up, just tilted a bit. And their fins are like rapidly twitching and fluttering. The bully fish keeps nipping at them and chasing them until they can hide once again. Not sure what to do anymore

Hi Musahi, to be honest 48 litres is too small for these barbs. They do reach a decent size and are very fast and active, needing a lot of room to dart around. I used to have a group of six in my 200L but decided to re-home them because they were just far too boisterous, non stop chasing etc which my angel and Bolivian Ram weren't to keen on. Keith has the ideal set-up for these - a 240L barb tank.

Probably not what you wanted to hear but if I was you I would take them back and look at something which stays much smaller and more peaceful. Limited options with only 48 litres though.

 

[Tizer]

the not so bright ones may well be females
Keith.

 

[Skins]

Ok, the situation is rapidly getting worse. Two fish now are hiding behind the heater and are tilted to one side..not completely on their side or belly up, just tilted a bit. And their fins are like rapidly twitching and fluttering. The bully fish keeps nipping at them and chasing them until they can hide once again. Not sure what to do anymore

Hi Musahi, to be honest 48 litres is too small for these barbs. They do reach a decent size and are very fast and active, needing a lot of room to dart around. I used to have a group of six in my 200L but decided to re-home them because they were just far too boisterous, non stop chasing etc which my angel and Bolivian Ram weren't to keen on. Keith has the ideal set-up for these - a 240L barb tank.

Probably not what you wanted to hear but if I was you I would take them back and look at something which stays much smaller and more peaceful. Limited options with only 48 litres though.

Very good point from Jamepsss, these odessa barbs can get quite big, as well being very active and with yours being in a 48ltr there is proberly not enough places for them to hide out. Have a word with pets at home and see if they can take them back, if its barbs you want to keep try 6x cherry barbs and 6x chequered barbs. These barbs don't grow as large, a lot more peaceful and there colours are stunning. You will still get the chasing game with the chequered's but a lot less aggresive than with the odessa's.

Let us know how you get on, Keith.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree, cherries would be much better in your situation. Odessas are a lot like rosies I think and the situation they do much better in is a 75g with a group of 8 or more so that the more dominant males get distracted by a different fish swimming by right at the point when they've started to chase a particular fish. Once you reach a certain size group they can just all weave in and out together doing this (often at rather high speed) and everything becomes right (they feel normal, the group looks good and if there is enough space then other species are not as bothered.)

~~waterdrop~~