Tiger barbs.. Gulp! Advice and comments appreciated

[black ghost]

That’s not eggs, it’s bloat.

What are you feeding them?
What is the temperature? Has it increased?
What is the nitrate level? And how much water do you change and how often?
Have you added any new fish to the tank?

[Martinspuddle]

Sorry mate but there something seriously wrong with this Barb.



Gravid female Barbs get plump not like that. Think of anti bacterial treatment might be the first course of action.

[black ghost]

Can you also get a picture of some of the normal-looking ones?

[Martinspuddle]

Can you also get a picture of some of the normal-looking ones?

You thinking it's one of 'Balloon' fish?

[fr499y]

Wtf?? They actually have a balloon barb…. Jeez humans need to stop messing with nature!!!

Low numbers certainly don’t help with aggression, but the fatness certainly doesn’t seem like eggs.

[Martinspuddle]

Wtf?? They actually have a balloon barb…. Jeez humans need to stop messing with nature!!!

Low numbers certainly don’t help with aggression, but the fatness certainly doesn’t seem like eggs.

Unfortunately, yes.


Image courtesy Aquatics to your door

[black ghost]

Can you also get a picture of some of the normal-looking ones?

You thinking it's one of 'Balloon' fish?

No, I’m thinking possibly worms.

[Martinspuddle]

Can you also get a picture of some of the normal-looking ones?

You thinking it's one of 'Balloon' fish?

No, I’m thinking possibly worms.

Could be.

[BAINBRIDGE]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I haven't checked parameters recently but I'll do and report back.

I do a 40% water change weekly. Usually I also do a gravel vac too, or rather I usually hoover over the sand, then agitate and hoover over it again. I'm recovering from a sports injury at the moment (sprained abdominals) and it really hurts reaching over and in, so I have relaxed my routine for the past month. Instead of religiously doing a 40% water change AND gravel vac, I've been doing a 40% water change every week and a gravel vac every other week.

As a result I have noticed a bit more detritus on the bottom when a gravel vac is overdue, and I imagine the nitrate level might get a bit higher than usual at times. However I've been prescribed rest and need to heal, so I'm trying to balance things as well as I can.

Food wise, the tank gets a pinch of flake daily, and either a pinch of bug bites or a few Hikari wafers at lights out. I also feed a cube of bloodworm once per week as a treat instead of dried food. The Plec gets a slice of blanched courgette once a week, and I remove the remains the next morning before it disintegrates.

Here's a video I took of a fight to enable you all to look at the fish in general. Usually the tank water is crystal clear (surface skimmer and polishing pad) but their shenanigans are stirring things up far more than usual.

[black ghost]

It’s males that are sparring for dominance. All of those barbs are ‘fat’ in the ‘chest’ area, which is where the stomach is, which means they’re getting way too much food. They’re even chunkier than mine would be and I feed a lot, relatively. Tigers will eat too much whenever they can.
What flakes are you using? A poor quality flake, or feeding at the surface, can easily cause bloat.
I wouldn’t worry about the sparring, as it doesn’t usually cause any harm.

I would feed less. Nothing wrong with little and often, but much less. And I’d feed more live / frozen and less dried, or dried that’s lower in protein.

I’d also treat with a good bactericide (eg Myxazin) which might save the bloated ones. Those bloated females might just be fat on top of eggs, if you’re lucky.