Rainbow Sharks

[LeoJason]

(I hope I am posting this in the right section)
I have a thirty gallon freshwater tank, and an aquatic turtle tank. In my freshwater tank I have a map turtle (he never bothers anyone and is very timid), a blue gourami who thinks he is the boss, a pleco, a loach ( I am not entirely certain what kind), a golden snail, and a cichlid I have tentatively identified as a mbuna. I also have three blue skirts, two tiger barbs, and two rainbow sharks.
It is the sharks that actually prompted me to join and post. They usually inhabit their own sides of the tank and are rarely seen together much less visible at the same time. However, lately they have been coming out once or twice a day and meeting each other. It starts with cautious circling and then progresses to rubbing up against each other. It ends with one eventually nipping the other until they return to their corners.
I really love watching my tank. I get hours of entertainment.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of behavior in rainbow sharks?

Oh, my other tank has two sliders and a map turtle.

[talldutchie]

Quite common. That's why 55 gallon per single adult is recommended. It will only get worse.

[LeoJason]

I will have to upgrade.

[imma24]

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...=rainbow+shark

Please check out this old thread FYI

[talldutchie]

I will have to upgrade.

Or switch to a more realistic stocking. Having a turtle in this fish combination isn't a good idea in the first place, very difficult to keep clean enough water.

[LeoJason]

I anticipated the keeping it clean issue with the turtle. He eats in another tank and mostly does his business there as well. The place where I got the sharks suggested I get two. Is it common to return a fish to a place of purchase? Also, I clean the tank once a week.

[talldutchie]

I get the impression here it's quite common in your country.

What do you want from your tank? Just fix this one problem? OR create something that will provide optimal conditions for the next few years?

[LeoJason]

Well, I definitely want the tank to last with a minimum issues if possible. I also want the best environment, and least stressful, for my tank inhabitants. I have been working pretty closely with my local shop. I am starting to get the feeling they may not entirely know what they are doing.

[steeler1]

Just remember that most places just want to turn over their stock. There are still some good people out there, don't get me wrong, but to alot of LFS's a sale is a sale.

[talldutchie]

Well, I definitely want the tank to last with a minimum issues if possible. I also want the best environment, and least stressful, for my tank inhabitants. I have been working pretty closely with my local shop. I am starting to get the feeling they may not entirely know what they are doing.

OK, in that case my unvarnished opinion

(I hope I am posting this in the right section)
I have a thirty gallon freshwater tank, and an aquatic turtle tank. In my freshwater tank I have a map turtle (he never bothers anyone and is very timid), a blue gourami who thinks he is the boss, a pleco, a loach ( I am not entirely certain what kind), a golden snail, and a cichlid I have tentatively identified as a mbuna. I also have three blue skirts, two tiger barbs, and two rainbow sharks.

1. How clean can you keep this with a turtle? Have you tested your water? what's your nitrates?
2. A "pleco" is what American fish stores stick on any of the 1200 fish of the Loricariidae family. It is most often used to mean Hypostomus plecostomus which grows out at 10-12 inch long. Not suited for a 30 gallon.
3. A mbuna needs hard alkaline water, the rest need soft water
4. I had to google blue skirt tetra. Apparently it's a dyed version of Gymnocorymbus ternetzi. If that's the case I am really curious why you'd buy a dyed fish. Anyway, it's a schooling species, needs company.
5. Tiger barbs also need company.

So.. my advice would be start by going onto ebay and ordering a liquid test kit and see of you can lose one of the sharks.