Why Are Our Tiger Barbs Swimming On Their Sides?

[Miles_hot]

Just today they all seem to be swinging at 30 degrees to vertical - any ideas?

Miles
Edited to add: water tests are all clear for ammonia and nitrite and 30 for nitrate (which is basically where it has sat since the fish have gone in.

 

[Rickzayne]

all of them?

or just a few?

could try the a few peas

 

[minnnt]

On their noses? Mine used to do this alot mate, just something they do i think.

 

[Miles_hot]

On their noses? Mine used to do this alot mate, just something they do i think.

No on their sides - when they swim towards you they're at an angle. I know the nose standing can be because the nitrate level is above 20 or so - no harm comes of this.

all of them?

or just a few?

could try the a few peas

All of them. Do I shell the peas or just stick 'em In?

 

[fluttermoth]

Cook them for a couple of minutes and then pop the halves out of the shells. I'd also do a large water change; there could be something in the water that we can't/don't test for present that's upsetting the fish.

 

[minnnt]

Are the lights on or off? Fish tend to swim sideways when lights are off in accordance with rays of light entering the tank.

 

[Miles_hot]

Goodness me, that seems to have sorted it lights off and they're noticeably sideways and lights on it is significantly less ...

 

[minnnt]

Lol, my angels are very vertical first thing in a morning with the lights off and the sun shining on the tank.

 

[Tizer]

barbs do swim at angles a little, they also go nose down to sleep. if they do nose down a lot and are awake and swimming, its a sign of over feeding.

 

[Miles_hot]

I see, the little sods are eating the pellet meant for the loachs - not sure how to stop that...

 

[minnnt]

I don't think you ever will mate. They are some of greediest fish available.

 

[Tizer]

yeah i struggle to get food down to my other fish too, so i tend to feed a fair bit of veg weighed down with a lead strip with flake in the day for barbs and rummynose and pellets at night after lights out for the corys. My Tigers are still fat little gits.