What the HECK?!?!?!

[tttnjfttt]

I went into my room and found all my tiger barbs huddled in one corner looking pale. Immediate response - I have never seen these fish in one spot for longer than a second. I immediately checked water paramters, all normal (ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0, pH - 7.4).

My next response is an instant water change, even though they had just gotten one yesterday. So I turn off their light and filter, change their water, also giving them salt, and they started seeming more normal. I then turn my light back on, and they FLY back to their corner and start acting shy again. Light off- normal.

What is going on here? Did my fish suddenly become scared of the light?

EDIT: This tank also just finished a mini-cycle yesterday. For the past week there had been low levels of nitrite in the water, and I had been changing their water daily or every other day.

 

[hello kitty]

im sure they fine prob just stressed from the water changes

 

[tttnjfttt]

They were not acting this way through all the water changes, etc. I jsut checked them and now they are acting that way without the light as well. Hiding in one corner, in a VERY tight group. Darting from side to side if they decide to move.

RECAP:

• Tank finished a mini cycle yesterday, all fish were acting normal through this
• Tiger barbs huddled in the bottom corner acting very jumpy and looking pale
• Darting from side to side when they do move
• all water stats normal
• Did another water change today to make sure something in the water wasn't freaking them out, i KNOW i added dechlorinator.

 

[BettaMomma]

Who else lives with you?
Check and see if anyone make any really loud noises (like a mom running a vacuum and ramming it into the tank stand, hence their connection w/the light coming on, then loud noises, let's get scared)...

It sounds like they're just petrified cuz something has scared them.

Is there anything sitting by the tank that didn't used to be there before?

 

[tttnjfttt]

Actually, no one else was home, and I had just gotten ofline when checking on them. They still are all in one corner of the tank, however, their color is better. I'm wondering if the water company did anything to the water??? Thats the only thing that has changed.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Are they the only fish in the tank?

 

[tttnjfttt]

no, there is 5 danios, who are acting fairly normal, maybe schooling a little tighter than normal, and 7 tiger barbs. They are acting a little more curious though, but still, not themselves.