Tiger Barbs swimming nose down!?!?! HELP!

[kr0nic]

My clown loaches swim like that all the time, usually with there nose digging around the substrate, im sure its just natural.

 

[maxthedog123]

They definitely "sleep" like that as well.

 

[bullseye69]

yup mine do the same thing after they eat and when at nite.

 

[mcox3]

when tiger barbs do this its usually a sign of nitrite poison.

 

[maxthedog123]

Well, it COULD be nitrite poisoning. However, nitrites in my tank are 0 and I can tell you they do that after they eat, pretty consistenly at night, and occasionally when resting during the day.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

when tiger barbs do this its usually a sign of nitrite poison.

I disagree, my trites are always zero and the barbs do it pretty often (every night).

 

[Eupterus]

If I recall correctly they swim that way when resting/sleeping at night.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

If I recall correctly they swim that way when resting/sleeping at night.

They do and also as a sign of dominance. They CAN get swim bladder related problems from overeating (I did ALOT of research on them when I freaked the first time I saw mine do this). The way to tell the difference is that an overeater will have trouble staying mid tank and will actively swim towards the bottom to no avail (My "alpha" had this once). As you know, they EAT like noone's business (I struggle to make sure my RTS gets any). If feeding anything else in the tank, do it well after lights out and use sinking food. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Sovran]

I was thinking about getting some tiger barbs, but now am not so sure. Something about hanging fish just kinda creeps me out.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

I was thinking about getting some tiger barbs, but now am not so sure. Something about hanging fish just kinda creeps me out.

They're great fish but, as I learned somewhat painfully, limit their tankmates and are voracious eaters. I wouldn't put them in a tank of bettas...