Tiger Barb HELP!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Capsaicin

Gambusia
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2009
206
6
18
Minnesota
Ok, so my GF bought 5 small tiger barbs from Petco and 3 of them died within the last couple days...now the remaining 2 have this white film on their "faces". The tank is a 55g community tank that has been cycled and been up and running for a few months. Couple goldfish, common pleco, danio and a rainbow koi. Any ideas what is killing the barbs? She also bought a goldfish and that is doing fine.

PLX HALP!
barb.JPG
 
I would not add any more fish in your tank. You have already combined the wrong fish around. Goldfish are coldwater/temperate species and are susceptible to fin nipping tendencies which your tiger barbs will likely perpetrate no doubt.

Aside from that, common plecos are the wrong choice of tankmates for 55g. They tend to be more aggressive as they mature and have been known to attack several goldfish particularly the fancy types. The only pleco I would combine with goldfish are bristlenose plecos. They work very well although there are always some exceptions (though rare) which includes sucking of slime coats leaving the goldfish prone to skin infections.

Assuming your goldfish are fancy types, I would rehome your barbs, danios and pleco. Fancy goldfish should be allocated a space of 10-15g per fish. They tend to grow rather huge and bulky. If you have not heard of this yet, telescopes, orandas, ryukins, ranchus and lionheads are a few of the largest variants you will ever find growing to almost 12 inches. I have an oranda at 8" in body length not including its tail. A 55g fits only at least 3-4 fancy types.

The pond types include jikin, watonai, wakin, hibuna (common goldfish), shubunkin and comet. All six grow much larger than the fancy types at 12-18 inches. They are feistier and a 55g cannot absolutely house a single one long term unless you plan to upgrade the tank or relocate them in the pond assuming your goldfish are the pond types.

Your rainbow koi should not be considered in tanks. They can reach 24-36 inches with 18-24 inches being the average size. They are more of pond fish rather than aquarium fish and with the bioload they contribute, tanks cannot accommodate them for a long period of time. They are also far too competitive for the fancy goldfish with the exception of pond types.

As for your tiger barbs. they most likely contracted columnaris. Treat them with Maracyn and Maracyn 2. Your other alternative is tetracycline if your pH does not exceed 7.6 otherwise it will not work effectively in very high pH.
 
Wow, thanks for the input and the thread move...found out why they died. She doesn't heat the tank and the barbs require a minimum of 70ish degrees and the tank is at like 60ish. The barbs were shedding their slime coat because of the stress. Also, none of her goldfish are "fancy"..1 comet (7"), 2 shubunken (5" and 3"), rainbow koi (4"), pleco (3")..all have been together for 2 years without problems. Also the danio (2") has had no problems.
 
The danio will not have issues with any of your goldfish since those are pond types and they can fend for themselves just fine. It's the pleco you have to be wary about. Common plecos are just not appropriately suited for 55g tanks anyway especially as these ones have a tendency to outgrow the tank. Why not just replace it with bristlenose pleco (right after you solve the tiger barb issue)?

The tiger barbs still need to be relocated. They are not appropriate tankmates for goldfish I'm afraid.
 
The barbs were relocated back to Petco in a sandwich bag:irked:

The pleco seriously hasn't grown over 2" in about 3 years. We consider your advice though if he starts to sprout up. I just got my shipment of glass today so I can start on my rimless 150g...maybe put him in there later.
 
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