Sameth Starr
New member
So my albino Barb was moved to a 5 gallon tank 3 weeks ago, from a 1 gallon fish bowl. He's 2 1/2 inches long. His energy has improved a lot, but I am wondering about two things-
1. He jumps when he gets fed, something he hasn't done before. He smacks himself on the light and it is endlessly comical, but is there another reason for doing this, other than excitement to eat?
2. He goes to the base of the aquarium plants and sort of nuzzles the rocks off of them, causing them to float to the surface, and then he gets into a huge frenzy over it. He'll spend hours working the rocks off, several days of trying on and off, before the plants float up. He brushes against the plants closely, and sometimes will rub himself sideways across the rocks. Is this normal, or could something be wrong? Or his he just looking for attention?
lol. He's been an odd fish since my friend gave him to me, I named him "Beef"
I got him from a large aquarium my friend had, she gave him to me in a bowl after he cannibalized his friends. I knew the bowl was too small, so i got the starter kit I was told to by the pet shop staff. The box said it was good for up to 3 barbs. I am doing the best I can, it isn't as if I can take him to the SPCA. Is there any way I can make him more comfortable, in his little tank? He eats his friends, so I am NOT going all the way to the city to get more fish until this one expires.
Would feeder goldfish be a good idea as a trial friend? 1 or 2? I know very little about fish... I just didn't want my friend to flush a live fish, so i took it in. I wonder if my Barb ate the others because she wasn't feeding them right. Why do Barbs eat each other, what causes it?
He's been on a steady diet of blood worms. My friend was feeding him goldfish flakes before. I have goldfish flakes and Betta pellets, but I don't know if he can eat those so I haven't fed him any. What should I buy to add to his diet to make him healthier?
Thanks everyone!
Again, I'll state it is not possible for me to get other barbs, because he ate the last 6 he was with, and because the nearest tropical fish supplier is in the city, an hour away, which also removes the option of giving him away.
The water is good, I think it was just him grabbing some food that has sunk, as the worms I have been feeding him sometimes sink to the bottom. I'll know when I try the goldfish flakes.
I don't have the money or space to upgrade the tank...again. But I guess a life lived like that is better than being flushed, right?
Last question then, what could I do to provide a more stimulating environment for a social fish forced to live alone?
1. He jumps when he gets fed, something he hasn't done before. He smacks himself on the light and it is endlessly comical, but is there another reason for doing this, other than excitement to eat?
2. He goes to the base of the aquarium plants and sort of nuzzles the rocks off of them, causing them to float to the surface, and then he gets into a huge frenzy over it. He'll spend hours working the rocks off, several days of trying on and off, before the plants float up. He brushes against the plants closely, and sometimes will rub himself sideways across the rocks. Is this normal, or could something be wrong? Or his he just looking for attention?
lol. He's been an odd fish since my friend gave him to me, I named him "Beef"
I got him from a large aquarium my friend had, she gave him to me in a bowl after he cannibalized his friends. I knew the bowl was too small, so i got the starter kit I was told to by the pet shop staff. The box said it was good for up to 3 barbs. I am doing the best I can, it isn't as if I can take him to the SPCA. Is there any way I can make him more comfortable, in his little tank? He eats his friends, so I am NOT going all the way to the city to get more fish until this one expires.
Would feeder goldfish be a good idea as a trial friend? 1 or 2? I know very little about fish... I just didn't want my friend to flush a live fish, so i took it in. I wonder if my Barb ate the others because she wasn't feeding them right. Why do Barbs eat each other, what causes it?
He's been on a steady diet of blood worms. My friend was feeding him goldfish flakes before. I have goldfish flakes and Betta pellets, but I don't know if he can eat those so I haven't fed him any. What should I buy to add to his diet to make him healthier?
Thanks everyone!
Again, I'll state it is not possible for me to get other barbs, because he ate the last 6 he was with, and because the nearest tropical fish supplier is in the city, an hour away, which also removes the option of giving him away.
The water is good, I think it was just him grabbing some food that has sunk, as the worms I have been feeding him sometimes sink to the bottom. I'll know when I try the goldfish flakes.
I don't have the money or space to upgrade the tank...again. But I guess a life lived like that is better than being flushed, right?
Last question then, what could I do to provide a more stimulating environment for a social fish forced to live alone?