Tiger Barb Bully

[ricci427]

Hi all,

I lost a couple of tiger barbs last week, had three lost two, didnt want the last guy to feel too lonely, so I went out and bought another two today. Problem is the two newer ones are a little smaller than the older one, and the older bigger one is bullying the two new ones so much that they are hiding behind the heater pointing down, and not daring to come out, because every time they do, the big one chases them back into the corner.

Anything I can do, someone told me that perhars tiger barbs should be in a bigger group

Or could it be simply that the new ones are so new, 5 hours or so, that they arent comfortable in a new tank yet.

thanks

Damien

 

[waterdrop]

I've seen a fair number of experienced aquarists here refer to tiger barbs as visually striking but as being bullies. That they are bullies has been my own experience. I have seen a few references about larger numbers of same-sized ones doing ok by themselves or with certain other larger fish - perhaps one of those people will see this thread.

good luck, ~~waterdrop~~

 

[chicklette]

Tiger barbs need to be in large schools from my experience. I have little ones with big ones and they are all fine but I’m talking a school of 30 tiger barbs but there in a very large tank. If you just keep them as a few you will see much more bullying. Pestering, chasing so depending on your tank size I strongly recommend getting more.

If kept in a large school the aggression is spread out. Kind of like african cichlids. I even set the tank up like african cichlid tank with rocks and caves. They really enjoy that.

I personally think they should be kept as a species tank as they will pester all fish.