I have (sorry if I butcher the spelling on these fish)
1 blue gourami (getting pretty beat up)
2 white mollies (getting nipped)
2 female guppies (the 2 males were killed this week)
1 albino bottom feeder
1 chinese algae eater
1 pleco
1 feeder goldfish (easily the biggest fish in the tank)
4 neon tetras (1 is looking pretty bad)
2 danios
4 cherry barbs
I really don't see much nipping going on when i watch. I feed 2 times a day in this 20gal tank. I'm assuming some of these fish just are not compatible with each other?? Which ones? I have another tank I can use to seperate, what should I do?
2006-10-20 03:12:58 · 11 answers · asked by SAGE 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
FYI most of these fish are as small as they come. I was thinking/suspecting the GF and the barbs. I think I will remove the GF and see what happens.
The Mollies,chinese algae eater, pleco (2 inches long) and guppies are all new from this week. I needed the Pleaco and algae eater to help me with the algae problem I have been having given that my tank is in full window view all summer.
2006-10-20 03:54:37 · update #1
As stated before, the algae eater is brand new to the tank and I doubt it is him. He's not even an inch long and pretty much hangs out by himself. When I put the guppies in this past Sunday the cherry barbs went right at them. But I never seen them do that before. I think it's probably the barbs. the gourami is my oldest fish, I have had him for at least 4 years, almost 5. His one side fin is almost eaten off :(
The bottom albino feeder is pretty docile, he kinda keeps to himself. the danios just chase each other. the pleco doesn't do much.
2006-10-20 10:27:11 · update #2
I took out the feeder Goldfish and he died within an hour....that didn't work so well.
2006-10-21 03:50:57 · update #3
Chinese algae eaters are known to be aggressive, usually when they're older though. I'd have to go with the goldfish IMO.
Now for the lecture :) Goldfish shouldn't be mixed with community fish. They prefer a cool water environment, and they are major ammonia producers, and usually end up snagging all the food.
Your tank is slightly overstocked. Are you sure it's nipped fins and not fin rot? Fin rot is caused by poor water conditions, usually with an overstocked tank it's more likely to occur.
The pleco you have, is it a common pleco? They get huge, too huge for a 20 gallon tank. IMO get rid of or buy a new tank for the goldfish, chinese algae eater, and possibly the pleco if it's the larger one if so replace it with a smaller species ie: bristlenose or rubber lip.
Also, buy some MelaFix(petstore and sometimes walmart has it). Use it according to directions. That'll help if it is fin rot, or if it's from aggression. Before adding it, do a water change as well. Be sure to do them every week, at least 20-25%especially since your tank is so full. Good luck!
2006-10-20 03:30:33 · answer #1 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My first thought are either the feeder goldfish ( which should have their own tank for many reasons) or the Chinese algae eater. These can be pretty nippy especially the algae eater. Depending on the what kind of albino bottom feeder he may or may not be a cause
good luck.
2006-10-20 10:53:10 · answer #2 · answered by DJ n 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you hadn't said that the blue gourami was getting beaten up, I would have voted him most likely to nip. They get mean as they get older.
I do agree with a couple people who said the algae eater is an agressive fish, but as was said, usually when they are older and larger.
It is not the cherry barbs, they are a very docile fish. Most danios, unless they are large do not bother anyone if they have others of their own kind (at least 5) to chase.
2006-10-20 06:38:43 · answer #3 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a pretty crowded tank for being 20 gallons. You may want to consider adding a lot (a lot!) of cover for the fish that are being picked on. Here's what I think:
The most likely culprits are going to be your cherry barbs. I work in an aquatics store, and we have to keep all of our barbs in seperate tanks because they are crazy fin nippers. They do ok with some fast swimming fish (like some tetras or danios) but gourami's especially will get kicked around.
Its possible that your large goldfish is the bully as I have seen it before, but he is really out of his element in a tropical tank. They are cold water fish & do better in a seperate tank.
That being said, I bet your barbs are the bullies here.
Good luck with your tank!
2006-10-20 03:29:56 · answer #4 · answered by emvannattan 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know they are a different kind but tiger barbs can not mix with any other fish so it may be the cherry barbs that are doing it perhaps. I had a problem like this with my goldfish and I just kept seperating them til I got the right bully. LOL! I knew I had the right one because the damage to the other fish stoped.
2006-10-20 07:02:39 · answer #5 · answered by gamom1975 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know too much about all those fish but goldfish shouldn't be in with all them, they are cold water fish and you have a tropical tank. A lot of bottom feeders/ algae eaters can be aggressive especially if they aren't getting enough of their food.
2006-10-20 03:18:49 · answer #6 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your tank is very over crowded and they may be fighting for their own territory in these situations they may all have a hand in attacking eachother. If you really want so many you should either get a larger tank or ask at a fish store the best way to use the space you have (ie: top, middle and bottom dwelling fish) Good luck.
2006-10-20 03:30:08 · answer #7 · answered by NotSoTweetOne 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the only innocent ones are the goldfish, the algae eaters and maybe the danios and tetras. Mollies will peck, barbs and gouramis are often territorial.
2006-10-20 05:38:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like they are all compatable if i was to suspect one would be algae eater sometimes they do this towards larger fish if there's not enough algae or food to eat because of all the slime on the larger fish
2006-10-20 08:36:00 · answer #9 · answered by howie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My roommate's albino bottom feeder killed countless other fish. Could it be that one?
2006-10-20 07:47:09 · answer #10 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋