a question?

[golfah808]

i have a community 55gal tank which has 2 clown loaches(2"), horseface loach(4"), frontosa(3.5"), black upside down synodontis(4"), and another small synodontis(1.5").

the reason i have the tinfoil barb is to stir up the tank so that the fish swim around more. The problem is that the tinfoil barb and frontosa fight with each other. Can this fighting which seems minor cause stress which could lead to disease? (I already lost 5 clown loaches due to an outbreak of ich!)

If i take the tinfoil barb out will the frontosa start to pick on the other fish in the tank as his nemesis the barb will be gone? I havent seen him fight with any of the other fish in the tank so will they be alright?


o and i was wondering if i could add an archer fish since i add a little more salt than recommended to keep off the ich.what do you think?

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

Sometimes it's good to keep dither fish in there to distract the more aggressive fish from focusing on just one fish. That may be why you are seeing aggression towards the tinfoil. A tinfoil will outgrow that tank anyway, so why not just add a few more dithers to replace him.

To answer your question, yes, fighting could lead to a break out in disease. That stress can be quite a nussance with some fish. I think you're less likely to see it in the tinfoil, but I don't think those loaches would fair well if the front focuses his aggression on them.

To tell you the truth, I've never kept archers in straight brackish water. I only use rock salts as a preventative measure...not to affect salinity. I even keep my datnoids in straight fresh as well...without any problems.

I hope this helps.

 

[Lupin]

Stress rendered your loaches vulnerable to ich. Please separate the loaches from your fronts. They are IMO incompatible.

 

[toehead11183]

i keep 6 fronts with 7 clown loaches and everyone gets along, they school together all the time. i'd remove the bard if he is the $h1t starter.