Tiger barbs nipped fins and size diffrance?

[Casey55]

Sorry to be a pain. I have been trying to find a answer on Internet but can't seem to find one.

I have 6 tiger barbs (green). All probably just over 1cm maybe abit more. Young ones.

I have gone and got a 3 in 1 fish hatchery today as the smallest barb looks to have he's tail fin nipped so I have put him in the hatchery as he's abit slower and been keeping himself to himself. Think he was like that when I bought him last weekend as the other 5 have been fine and not bothered him and I noticed something didn't seem right not long after he was in the tank.

How long do you think I should keep him separated from the rest of tank?

And

I'm gonna go with 6 more tiger barbs in the near future so is it better to get them roughly the same size as the ones I already have or get random sizes to say so the biggest one will take charge quicker of the rest of them and keep aggression down.

Thanks.

 

[Byron]

This relates to what I explained in the other thread. This species (and remember the varieties are the same species, so the behaviours/traits will be the same) needs 10+ in the group to keep the natural nipping tendency controlled, though admittedly sometimes that doesn't work either.

As for the isolated fish, it is likely when it is returned to the group this nipping will continue. We cannot "train" fish contrary to their inherent behaviours if these worsen. When you have the larger number this fish could be added to the group with the new ones and you might be OK. There is no guarantee.

As for the new variety, usually the fish are much the same age in the store tank, as they will have come from a certain breeder and be part of a particular spawn. Some fish do grow larger than others, I see this all the time with my shoaling fish, but this is no guide as to aggressiveness.

[I am assuming the issue is the nipping, and not something else.]

 

[Casey55]

I don't think the nipping was in my tank. I think it has happened in the shops tanks before I got them. So far out of the 6 fish, 4 now stay together 1 is abit of a outcast but seems OK for now as he is left alone and the small nipped fish dosent get any hassle from the others but dose sit at the top of the water about 1cm down.

In the shop they sell bigger tiger barbs that's what made me wounder if it was worth getting one and mixing the sizes or would it make no difference.

Thanks.

 

[Byron]

I would acquire the smaller fish in a group. They are more likely to adjust better, and adding the group at the same time means they will have to settle in with the existing fish, which is more likely to be successful with younger fish.

Keep in mind this fish is a species that establishes a hierarchy within the shoal, and nipping is inherent. We have larger groups to keep this within the species.

 

[Casey55]

Ok then I will go for that then and stick with the smaller fish. Thanks for all the information and help.