Tiger Barb bullies its shoal to death!

[jo3olous]

Hey everyone, So I started out with 5 tiger barbs a few days after I had gotten my new tank (end of july). They were very young, only about 3/4 inch big. Apperantly there was a bully in the group and he isolated each of them one by one chasing them around on a daily basis! The smallest 2 died and I was down to 3. In hopes of calming him down, I added 4 more barbs, a big larger than the original group. Of course with the new group of barbs there was a newfound leader and he chases everyone to the point of insanity. Surprisingly I woke up one day (a week ago), and The largest barb had died from the new group, along with the smallest barb from the 1st group I purchased. I am now down to 4 barbs, the bully of course looks in great shape, very colorful. One of my barbs appear bloated (pregnant? or overeating?) Another one is so stressed out from being chased around (colorloss in fins, and turning bronze), and the Original bully from the first group seems to be getting very slim and has been hanging out in the upper corners of the tank for 3 days. Is the little guy in the corner dying? He looks fine as color goes, just looks like he hasnt been eating. The other 2 look okay when they are idle but when they get chased around they swim on an angle, probably due to being fin nipped. I also have a red tailed shark in here that has been doing great, none of the barbs bother him and he's been active at night, hiding in the day. "What to do with the bully?"
I will post pix later today when I get home

[MatthewLaw]

hmm interesting situation. I have 6 TB and the largest has asserted his dominance. 95% of the time all 6 TB swim together as a school. Once in a while, the largest TB chases a smaller TB. I also have 5 rainbow sharks and for the most part they stay away from each other. During feeding time they are ravenous and when I have put new plants in the tank, the TBs have nipped at my finger!!

Maybe move the largest TB into a separate tank and let the other recooperate?

When you feed, do you feed at both ends of the tank?? I feed on both ends since the big fish bully the smaller fish and get to the flakes first on the first side i feed. by the time the big fish realizes i have fed on the other side, the smaller fish have already discoverd and eaten that food. my rainbow sharks are not aggressive at all with the TB and usually eat when the TBs dont get to.

[Surprise_Clown_Loach]

Administer BEATINGS!!!!

I have 2 TB in a community tank. One is "bloated" too. My big TB doesn't chase anyone. (that i've noticed) He isn't the biggest fish in the tank though.

[jo3olous]

Originally Posted by MatthewLaw

hmm interesting situation. I have 6 TB and
When you feed, do you feed at both ends of the tank?? I feed on both ends since the big fish bully the smaller fish and get to the flakes first on the first side i feed. by the time the big fish realizes i have fed on the other side, the smaller fish have already discoverd and eaten that food. my rainbow sharks are not aggressive at all with the TB and usually eat when the TBs dont get to.

Yes, I trade off between flakes and shrimp pellets, and I usually put flakes on both ends of tank, or break up a few pellets and scatter them. The bully does race to the food first but when it's spread out the others manage to get their share. Surprisingly, when I added the 4 new barbs before deaths, They stuck together in a pack a lot, but gradually they split off and everyone seemed to find a hiding spot away from the new bully. Since there are only 4 left they are often not together.

I was thinking of adding more fake plants to increase hiding area, and maybe it will make them happier. I am not sure if adding more barbs again will solve the problem. I'm also not sure of my water levels, I'm going to buy a testing kit this week to see what's up. All I know is that my temperature is a constant 75 degree f.

[jo3olous]

Originally Posted by Surprise_Clown_Loach

Administer BEATINGS!!!!

LOL to this

[MatthewLaw]

i agree that adding more TBs may not be the answer. You may be trading one bully for another. Have you considered quarantining the big bully?

When did you start your tank? The tank may not be cycled and besides being bullied the fish may be uncomrtable/unhappy from experiencing high amonia, nitrite, nitrate levels. have you done any water changes since you first filled up the tank??

[jo3olous]

I've had the tank for almost a month now, and I've done 2 water changes (every other week) since my tanks not quite near capacity

[MatthewLaw]

i would still recommend testing your tanks levels but hopefully it should be done cycling (soon).

add more plants/hiding spots may help. although i can tell you from experience that the largest TB will enter the plants to continue his chase.

[jo3olous]

I thought the size difference would be the issue, but the barb only seems to chase the other big barb in my tank, and when the others that had died were bigger than him. He actually seems to leave the little one alone

[MatthewLaw]

I guess they're still 'deciding' who is the leader of the pack?? would you consider adding in a partition to keep the bully away from the others?