Cheery Barbs - Males have gone crazy

[ashork]

Hello All

I have had my Aquarium set up for about a week. Its a 20 galllon tank, artifical plants, and decorations. Current residents are 5 cherry Barbs, 3 males and 2 females. Everything is good so far except in the last 1 hour the males have gone nuts and are chasing around the poor females and each others. I am assuming that the males are looking for a "little lovin" (spawning) but I am concerned that they are going to stress out the females to the point of killing them. The females can not seem to get away from the males. Should I be concerned? I do not have another tank ready (I was going to try to get a 10gallon ready this weekend for my son.)

The males are nice and red (I read this indicates their "mood")

Question should I be concerned for the females?

Adding more females is not a great answer since the tank is not cycled (yes I tried the fishless cycle method and had a disaster after about 6 weeks and decided (well the wife and kids decided that they wanted to try the fish in the tank method. I am doing water testing and changes as needed)


sorry for the ramble and thanks for advice

ashork

[rich311k]

I think adding females would solve the problem. In the meantime maybe add more plants to provide more hiding spots for the girls.

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!:22:
Can you list your water perameters for us?
Barbs seem to get along better with one male a few females.They like their harems! lol
As suggested more decor,rocks, or plants to block the line of site.
Another tank maybe! lol:hmm3grin2orange:

[ashork]

Thanks for the welcome

Ok I can add some more plants or hiding spots no problem. I guess I could add another single female tommorow (need to replace some of my fish food since my 2 dogs ate a bag of pellets yesterday. My dogs each anything)

Water perameters as of today

Ammonia - 0-0.25 ( I have a hell of a time seeing the difference)
Nitrite - 0.25
Nitrate - 0
PH is 7.4-7.6

I do a 25% water change usually every day to 2nd day when the Ammonia is 0.25-0.50 (as I read it)

Using liquid test (API?)


thanks

[Little Embers]

WELCOME :shappy: Looks like you are into the 2nd stage of cycling!

Male cherries are more loners and stake out a little territory for themselves, they can become aggressive to other males. As the other have already said, the ratio of females needs to be increased, but you are wise not to add more until the cycling has completed (just saw your latest post and I personally wouldn't add another fish yet). I go along with adding more decor as well, but if things get much worse, you may need to take back a couple of males for the time being anyway or you could place the females in a big breeding net to get some rest, but putting fish in breeding nets can cause some stress to fish if in there for a long time.

[ashork]

Hi Little Embers

From what I read, I thought Cherries were the peaceful barbs and at worst the males did a little "dance" to show who was boss. Is this wrong??

I also read that cherries like to mate in bright light so I turned the light of on the aquarium to see if that would calm then down ( its 10pm here and the house is dark) It seem to work. The biggest male is calmly following the biggest female and the small female is tagging along. Looks like the smallest male is getting stressed out as well (or exhausted from the chase) he was hiding near the top of the tank just before I turned the lights out but has now gone down to the bottom.

Well lets hope they stay calm for the evening and I will decide if I will add a female. Not sure if the Pet store will take them back or not. I am not to concerned about the additional stress to the cycle. I fed the fish every 2nd day and monitor the water everyday, usually twice.

Well its been an exciting evening. If I didn't have a hood I am sure the females would have been on the floor looking for some peace

ashork

[Little Embers]

No! I don't think you are wrong! They are the more peaceful of the Barbs that is for sure and any aggression usually doesn't cause injury, the chasing (if constant) can be very stressful though.

I have had cherry barbs before, 3 males and 6 females...the males did often keep to themselves but would still chase a lot, especially when in spawning mode LOL. A lot of times fish don't follow the guidelines of behaviour etiquette and may not act according to what is written LOL!! They may just take a bit of time to settle down and develop a hierarchy.

[ashork]

Good Morning folks

Well the cherries are all alive and hmmmm looking tired.... One male is still bugging the females who are swimming near the top of a plant and trying their best to rest. Hes not moving to fast this morning either

Water Test this morning show that I have Nitrates!! so my cycle is going good

Ammonia-0 (maybe .25, depends on the light)
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate - 5

So I think I will add another female this morning. A big one! as well as a cave or something the females can hide better in. Also I think a divider for the tank so if the behavior persists I can give the females a day off.

Here I thought Fish would be an easy pet compared to my dogs....:shappy:

Thanks for the advice

[Sharon]

Welcome!!! Fish...easier than dogs!!! NO!!!:hmm3grin2orange: Actually it does get easier....once everything is stabilized.:ssmile:

[jaysee]

I started my cherry barb school with 2m/1f, then bumped it to 2m/3f, and now it's at 4m/4f. When the school was smaller, they definitely had to work out a pecking order. Try getting just one more female, but skip the divider. They'll work it out.

[ashork]

Morning

As you said they seem to have worked it out (or are getting here). I added 2 females.

[jaysee]

Glad to hear it!