Golden Barb behaviour - aggression or just playing?

[Snail osaka]

I have never kept any kind of Barbs before. I recently bought a couple of Golden Barbs who are very active and get along well with other tank residents. However, I am just wondering what their behaviour signifies as I've never seen it before. They do chase each other around as fish do, but more often they hover right next to each other and body slam into each other, as in hit the other fish's side with their side. They each seem to give as good as they get. Sometimes there is side on head butting as well. Occasionally they get into full dual corkscrew patterns with each other. Is this courtship, normal aggression between 2 males, or something to be concerned about? Perhaps this is just what Golden Barbs do, so if anyone is wiser than me on the topic, any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[platytudes]

Barbs can be a little aggressive, they're recommended to be kept in larger groups. If you added 4 more, I bet this behavior would go away. It doesn't sound like it's playing to me, honestly. Gold barbs are peaceful compared to nippy tiger barbs (again they behave much better in big groups!) but they still need to be kept in a school for best behavior.

 

[drunkenmastera]

i have 5 tiger barbs and this is just normal behavior. They are very active fish.

 

[Snail osaka]

Thanks for the responses. I would like to get more as I realise it is recommended they ｂｅ kept as a group of 5 or more. I ｗｉｌｌ keep an eye on them and report if anything else strange occurs. I really like these Golden Barbs、they are full of energy and very entertaining.

 

[aXio]

Thanks for the responses. I would like to get more as I realise it is recommended they ｂｅ kept as a group of 5 or more. I ｗｉｌｌ keep an eye on them and report if anything else strange occurs. I really like these Golden Barbs、they are full of energy and very entertaining.

I agree barbs are a very good addition to a community tank. They bring lots of movement to the tank and barely like to stay still. I have a school of 10 cherry barbs in a 55g and they are amazing fish imo. Fast enough to be with the bigger fish, yet freindly enough to be with most little guys as well. Except for the tiger barbs, when ever I've kept those they usually like to fight and nip on other fish.

Like everyone else said try to get a school of 5 or more, depending on your tank size and current stock of course

 

[GotTanked]

I agree, I have a school of 11 Gold Barbs in my tank and they display the exact same behavior. This is a dominance display, it didn't start until they got to a certain age. As long as you have enough Gold Barbs and hiding places, they will be fine. Gold Barbs are even tough enough to get along with Tiger Barbs, so unless there is constant pestering between two specific individuals, you shouldn't have a problem.

Also, although mine have never spawned, reading accounts of mating say the same thing:

The male will harass the female and smack her body with his body and tail. He will pester her into an area full of bushy plants and smack her around a little bit until she releases her eggs.

The ciiiiiircle of liiiiiiife...

 

[tanker]

I have 10 golden barbs and they chase each other once in a while, but nothing happens (no ripped fins, ect). IMO--You need more of them.

 

[GotTanked]

I agree with Tanker - never seen any damage to the little guys and gals, just displaying.

 

[Snail osaka]

I have been doing some reading, even though it seems people use the terms Golden Barb and Gold Barb interchangeably, the fish I have are definitely Gold Barbs, contrary to what I said in my first post. Puntius Sachsii? Unless of course, the sources I am reading are inaccurate. Anyway, in Japan they are sold as Golden Barbs. In a couple of weeks I'll add another 4 Gold Barbs and hopefully they will form a peaceful little community!