Hi, well I have wanted tiger barbs from some time but I know it's not advised to keep them with guppies. However, my friend of a friend was desperate to find a home for her 2 tiger barbs (again, I know they should be kept in larger groups) and as she assured me they were very docile, I decided to take a chance. Anyway I put them into my tank yesterday (110litres, all other fish except for my catfish relatively small - although my catfish is still very young and tiny) and initially they seemed fine, one was a little more bold than the other but kept to themselves mostly. The tank I took them from was only 60 litres and they shared it with some really big fish, so I think they appreciated the space. Anyway, I turned the light off before going to bed, and half an hour later decided to take a quick peek. They had taken advantage of the darkness to attack my guppies! Poor little things had had their tails really nipped, luckily I checked or I think I would have woken today to dead guppies.
My first tank is only 21 litres, obviously far too small for the barbs but I felt on the short term I would put them in there whilst I decide what to do (possibly move the guppies into the little tank and keep the barbs in the big tank - either that or take the barbs to my LFS). Well the tank was running for a year and although it had been turned off for a week or so, the filter media is still established so I took a chance and put them in. I know it's not ideal, and the water was probably initially a little cold, but they are still with me and having tested the water today, all levels have come back perfect. However, both of them are staying very close to the bottom of the tank, mostly staying very still and twitching their fins. They did eat a little food this morning, but I'm concerned their gills look a little swollen (though I've only had them since yesterday afternoon so don't really know what their norm is).
Is it possible that they are just miserable being in such a small tank and physically they are okay? Or is it likely there is a bigger issue here? I work full time so couldn't really take them to my LFS until the weekend, and I am also cautious about putting my guppies into the small tank as I know they struggle in less-established tanks.
SORRY this is so long! I just want to be thorough!