New tiger barbs - 2 dead

[eob]

Hello everyone,

New to the site.

I setup a 55 gallon aquarium about 8 weeks ago now.

I have since added 6 gouramis (week 3), 4 corydoras (week 5)

Yesterday i bought 8 tiger barbs (week 7). Knowing that you should keep a large group so they won't bother their fishmates.

Well today, I found 2 of the tiger barbs dead. As I was watching, one tiger barb seems to be overly aggressive with the rest of the tiger barbs.

I am assuming he killed the other two. I didn't think tiger barbs would actually kill each other. Thoughts anyone?

BTW, the tiger barbs were the last batch i was planning on adding to the tank.

Thanks for your comments.

[Gourami Swami]

How agressive? Are there any bites/visible wounds in the barbs?

Did you cycle the tank BTW?

Oh, and i reeeeeealy doubt that will work out with 6 gouramis, they usually tear each other up eventually IME

[Puffer Pita]

Yes, tigers can attack each other and harass each other to death. Mine will pick on anyone in the pack that is weaker or slower (or smaller) than the rest.

What it also could be, however, was a mini-cycle. Adding too many fish at once will kick even a cycled tank into a mini-cycle, especially if it was cycled with fish, because there isn't enough bacteria to handle a large addition to the bioload.

Any idea what your water parameters are? Are those the only livestock in the tank?

[eob]

I did do a water change (25%) just last weekend. I did check water parameters, all is normal. The total fish count is: 6 gouramis, 4 corydoras, and now 6 tiger barbs.

I can't really tell if the dead barbs have any bites (but it may be that i don't know what i am looking for).

The aggressive barb doesn't stop harassing the rest. Well not anymore, I have a big net and I have him quarantined for the time being. The remaining seem more calm now.

BTW, the aggressive barb is if not the smallest, one of the smallest.

Gourami swami - when you say that the 6 gouramis will not work either because they will tear each other up - are you referring to the barbs and the gouramis? or among the gouramis themselves? All the gouramis have been quite peaceful so far.

[Sable]

Can you give us the exact parameters?

As the gouramis age, they'll start tearing each other up.

[FishHead]

I have 4 green barbs, 3 tiger barbs, opaline gourami and gold gourami and they are all working out.in the tank are also 2 pictus catfish and a rainbow shark. semi aggressive community tank. Everyone gets along pretty well, but the barbs do chase each other around.

[eob]

Originally Posted by Sable

Can you give us the exact parameters?

As the gouramis age, they'll start tearing each other up.

Ph= 7.0-7.2
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 5-10ppm (closer to 5)

[eob]

Originally Posted by FishHead

I have 4 green barbs, 3 tiger barbs, opaline gourami and gold gourami and they are all working out.in the tank are also 2 pictus catfish and a rainbow shark. semi aggressive community tank. Everyone gets along pretty well, but the barbs do chase each other around.

Reassuring, how long have you had this setup?

[FishHead]

Originally Posted by eob

Reassuring, how long have you had this setup?

I bought this tank for my 3 year old son for his birthday.IT has been up since September. My girlfriend gave me the gold gourami because it was harassing the smaller fish in her tank, which all were NOT semi aggressive. At first, the opaline and gold gourami chased each other around and had a territorial issue but things have mellowed out drastically. The barbs do chase each other around, but everything appears to be playful and not fighting.

[Puffer Pita]

I wouldn't consider 2 months an indication of success. Let us know how its going in a year once they've all gotten older and are fully settled in.

[FishHead]

Yes, I can respect that. I feel that you can tell how they will react from the start of the tank. 2 months is a pretty decent time for fish to get along ya know. So far, I would say it is a succes..If anything changes, than i;ll just buy another tank!