Green Tiger Barbs - at a loss...   3/16/06
Bob,
<Ralph>
I've a 90 gallon that I recently switched back to freshwater.  Original intent was to have mostly cichlids, again.  Only real aggressive fish was to be a Green Terror ( my last was essentially a peacekeeper who bothered no one except feeders though he got to be 10").
<Yikes!>
Looking at some other sites I found a couple decent compatibility lists and have also ended up with some barbs as well.
<Easygoing ones/species I trust>
The only problem I keep having is the loss of green tiger barbs.  I've lost seven from three different batches from the same LFS.
<Mmm, know that these are sometimes "wanky" from dealers... are raised in the Far East, often "hormone treated" to boost color... That this degrades their health otherwise... often lost on/near arrival anomalously...>
I've currently 3 more from another store - one has nipped fins and is acting a little odd.  As for the goners- two for sure had nipped fins especially dorsal tail.  The last two had upper fins that looked like they were flaying/separating - like a feather and for a week or so I would catch the one upside down as if dead until another fish would come near!  No signs of any Ick, Fungus, rot or anything else apparently wrong.
I am at a loss as to what is going on- the goners were the largest of the Barbs..  I've two Albino Tiger Barbs, four Tiger barbs,
<And these are the same species... mixable>
two rosy, one gold and four longer (tigerish) barbs.  They have been doing great and most have been in the tank since the beginning (@3 months).  Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates are great.  Ph and Temp acceptable for all.
I've also two Giant Danios, one Plecostomus, one Green Terror, one Jewel Cichlid, a pair of Rainbow Cichlids, one small Firemouth, a Cat, and a couple 1/2-3/4" Africans. ( .99 cent sale).
<Mmm, well, the cichlids might be working the new Green Barbs woe...>
They are feed a variety of dried, pellet, flake, frozen and live food.  Today I bought more live Brine shrimp and some feeder guppies.  The largest fish are one of the Danios and the Rainbows 3" - 3 1/2".
Other than feeder guppies I've lost no fish other than the aforementioned Green Tiger Barbs.
Plenty of caves, plants and wood for hiding.
Thanks for your time.
Ralph L Thieleman
<I encourage you to "harden" a new batch of these barbs... buy, place them in another tank, moving water from your ninety for water changes... for a few to several weeks. When transferring to your main tank, do move about the decor items there (to disrupt territories, impose a new dynamic)... If there is "psychological" as well as metabolic room for them all, this should do it. Bob Fenner>

Re: Green Tiger Barbs - at a loss...      3/17/06
Bob,
<Ralph>
Thanks for the reply.
<Welcome>
I still don't understand why only the green ones.  I had them First, in-between and now last.  I see no one harassing them.  With the first ones I did see them bothering each other.  I see the longer Barbs "playing" and chasing each other as well as cichlids chasing other cichlids.
<I do believe these "green" sports are less hardy than their brethren period...>
I again have a green that since his lower tail looks chewed has become more solitary the past week but I've another green now that his top fin looks likes  it is fraying like some others had.
One of them looked like he was sideways at the top last weekend as well.  Why only the greens?
<Genetics? Poorer care in Singapore where they very likely originated?>
Some cichlids have had their tails chewed on by other cichlids.  One even lost an eye.  No deaths.  Just Green Tiger Barbs.  And again I see no signs of them getting picked on even by each other, especially with these last three.
<Perhaps the green ones are more "attractive" to whoever may be harassing them (likely the Terror, at night)... This is a common phenomenon (differential mortality/predation based on color, markings... a fave thesis project some years back)>
If I lose these I'll most likely give up on that variation.
Thanks again,
Ralph L Thieleman
<I don't blame you... There are other species of barbs... though your system is over-stocked psychologically now... Bob Fenner>