tiger barb going red

[SRC]

I have one tiger barb (of 6) that is developing a bright red streak along
the edge of the dorsal fin where it meets the body. Is this blood? What
would cause blood, if it is?

Steve

[Tedd Jacobs]

"SRC" wrote...
> I have one tiger barb (of 6) that is developing a bright red streak along
> the edge of the dorsal fin where it meets the body. Is this blood? What
> would cause blood, if it is?
>
> Steve

hi steve, how new are your tiger barbs? have you just gotten them recently? are
they semi-mature or fully mature?

tiger barbs as they mature (or as they begin to settle in if they are new
introductions) will begin to display their healthy colors. red on their fins and
red down the nose are common. in green tigers the bodies can pick up an almost
velvety plush tone from deep green to purple to dark blue while normal tigers
will become a deep pearlvescent, almost transparent silverish or pinkish white.
most of the fin and nose color variations will develop more intensely on the
males, but not always, females will develop the red fins also and in many cases
will display it first depending on maturity and stressless conditions.

tedd.

[SRC]

"Tedd Jacobs" > wrote in message
...
> hi steve, how new are your tiger barbs? have you just gotten them
recently? are
> they semi-mature or fully mature?
[snip]
Thanks, this makes sense now. I have started with 2 green tigers (1"), and
added 2 regular tigers (1 1/2 to 2") about 2 weeks later. I just added 2
more regular tigers (1/2"). The larger tigers are showing red -- one on the
outer edges of the fins and one close to the body. The smaller ones are not.
The colour is so striking I thought it might be blood. I have been worrying
about water quality, but didn't really think this was an issue as the other
barbs seem fine, and I have 2 Otos that are not dead -- I get the impression
that these tend to die early in tanks that are not just right. I stumbled
upon a great picture in "Today's Fishkeeper" Dec 2003 pg 10. My Tiger is not
this colourful, but the red is of the right hue or intensity. These Tiger
barbs, including the green ones, are very beautiful fish.