Cherry Barbs off their food

I've got six Cherry Barbs in a 10 gallon tank with 4 SAEs, three Otos and a
few snails. I know it's over stocked, but the SAEs will be moving on one
day. I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the rest of
the crew feed off the Algae. I occasionally feed the clean up crew some
Algae wafers, although I think it's affecting their efforts. But the Barbs
have been less than thrilled with their food lately.

My first thought was that the Nitrates might be getting too high, as I only
change the water every 10 days or so. But they tested at less than 5 ppm
after tonight's water change. So I guess the little buggers are getting
bored of their food? I did feed them a few frozen Blood Worms last week,
that I give to the fish in the large tank on weekends. No one seems to be
suffering, so I guess they're expecting the good stuff now! Although I'm a
little surprised by this behavior in barbs.

On Wed, 1 Mar 2006 21:32:55 -0500, "Bill Stock"
wrote:

I've got six Cherry Barbs in a 10 gallon tank with 4 SAEs, three Otos and a
few snails. I know it's over stocked, but the SAEs will be moving on one
day. I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the rest of
the crew feed off the Algae. I occasionally feed the clean up crew some
Algae wafers, although I think it's affecting their efforts. But the Barbs
have been less than thrilled with their food lately.

You didn't mention any other food besides blood worms. While blood
worms are good food and many fish enjoy them, they don't provide a
complete nutritional diet for your fish. Your barbs like and need all
sorts of food, including some vegetable matter, so a balanced "general
purpose" flake food might be appreciated. If you are already feeding a
flake food and just didn't mention it here, my fish guy told me that
he often feeds marine flakes to his freshwater tanks - he said the
ingredients are very similar and the marine flakes have more "smell
enhancers". I did a sniff test on an open container and yup, those
marine flakes did smell a lot stronger. And my fish loved them.

My first thought was that the Nitrates might be getting too high, as I only
change the water every 10 days or so. But they tested at less than 5 ppm
after tonight's water change.

You are really pressing your luck with such infrequent water changes
on a small tank carrying a big load. It's time to get a bigger tank,
or add a couple of more 10's or 15's. Or both. It is so much easier
keeping a 29 healthy than it is a 10.

Next time, do your water test before your water change, that's where
the real info lies.

-- Mr Gardener

"Mr. Gardener" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 1 Mar 2006 21:32:55 -0500, "Bill Stock"
wrote:

I've got six Cherry Barbs in a 10 gallon tank with 4 SAEs, three Otos and
a
few snails. I know it's over stocked, but the SAEs will be moving on one
day. I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the rest
of
the crew feed off the Algae. I occasionally feed the clean up crew some
Algae wafers, although I think it's affecting their efforts. But the Barbs
have been less than thrilled with their food lately.

You didn't mention any other food besides blood worms. While blood
worms are good food and many fish enjoy them, they don't provide a
complete nutritional diet for your fish. Your barbs like and need all
sorts of food, including some vegetable matter, so a balanced "general
purpose" flake food might be appreciated. If you are already feeding a
flake food and just didn't mention it here, my fish guy told me that
he often feeds marine flakes to his freshwater tanks - he said the
ingredients are very similar and the marine flakes have more "smell
enhancers". I did a sniff test on an open container and yup, those
marine flakes did smell a lot stronger. And my fish loved them.

They get Blood Worms, Algae, Algae Flakes, Plants(?) and someone is eating
all the young snails. I've got lots of other foods, maybe I'll vary their
diet a bit.


My first thought was that the Nitrates might be getting too high, as I
only
change the water every 10 days or so. But they tested at less than 5 ppm
after tonight's water change.

You are really pressing your luck with such infrequent water changes
on a small tank carrying a big load. It's time to get a bigger tank,
or add a couple of more 10's or 15's. Or both. It is so much easier
keeping a 29 healthy than it is a 10.

I've got a couple of tank upgrades planned, but no time. I'd like to replace
this one with a 25, but I know the desk won't support it.

Next time, do your water test before your water change, that's where
the real info lies.

I doubt the Nitrates are much over 10 pre water change. They're are quite a
few plants in there or else I'd be in trouble with the insane stocking
levels.


-- Mr Gardener

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
...
I've got six Cherry Barbs in a 10 gallon tank with 4 SAEs, three Otos and
a few snails. I know it's over stocked, but the SAEs will be moving on one
day. I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the rest
of the crew feed off the Algae. I occasionally feed the clean up crew some
Algae wafers, although I think it's affecting their efforts. But the Barbs
have been less than thrilled with their food lately.

My first thought was that the Nitrates might be getting too high, as I
only change the water every 10 days or so. But they tested at less than 5
ppm after tonight's water change. So I guess the little buggers are
getting bored of their food? I did feed them a few frozen Blood Worms last
week, that I give to the fish in the large tank on weekends. No one seems
to be suffering, so I guess they're expecting the good stuff now! Although
I'm a little surprised by this behavior in barbs.


Any significnat recent temperature changes to the setup..? I've had CB's go
really sluggish on a semi-rapid change (eight hour power loss in winter, 10
gal tank like yours, equaled a 3 or 4 degF drop in tank temp over those 8
hours)... a 10 gallon doesn't give you a very big heat sink against rapid
water temperature changes. Have you been seeing colder evenings lately?

FYI my cherry barbs seem no worse for wear.

DaveZ
Atom Weaver

"David Zopf" wrote in message
m...

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
...
I've got six Cherry Barbs in a 10 gallon tank with 4 SAEs, three Otos and
a few snails. I know it's over stocked, but the SAEs will be moving on
one day. I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the
rest of the crew feed off the Algae. I occasionally feed the clean up
crew some Algae wafers, although I think it's affecting their efforts.
But the Barbs have been less than thrilled with their food lately.

My first thought was that the Nitrates might be getting too high, as I
only change the water every 10 days or so. But they tested at less than 5
ppm after tonight's water change. So I guess the little buggers are
getting bored of their food? I did feed them a few frozen Blood Worms
last week, that I give to the fish in the large tank on weekends. No one
seems to be suffering, so I guess they're expecting the good stuff now!
Although I'm a little surprised by this behavior in barbs.


Any significnat recent temperature changes to the setup..? I've had CB's
go really sluggish on a semi-rapid change (eight hour power loss in
winter, 10 gal tank like yours, equaled a 3 or 4 degF drop in tank temp
over those 8 hours)... a 10 gallon doesn't give you a very big heat sink
against rapid water temperature changes. Have you been seeing colder
evenings lately?

FYI my cherry barbs seem no worse for wear.

DaveZ
Atom Weaver


Thanks Dave,

The temp might flucuate a couple of degrees (F), but it's normally 78.

I tried some Gammarus last night, but no one was interested. My Snail
population is growing though. I originally had two large Snails, but now I'm
up to about four (that I can see). So I suspect they're getting their fill
of young Snails.

I'll try the veggie flakes tonight, but no one seems to be suffering.

Bill Stock wrote,
I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the rest of
the crew feed off the Algae..................But the Barbs
have been less than thrilled with their food lately........

Just wanted to point out that Cherry Barbs will eat algae also. Are you
sure they aren't taking their fill on it also?
..................... Frank

"Frank" wrote in message
ups.com...
Bill Stock wrote,
I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the rest of
the crew feed off the Algae..................But the Barbs
have been less than thrilled with their food lately........

Just wanted to point out that Cherry Barbs will eat algae also. Are you
sure they aren't taking their fill on it also?
.................... Frank

No doubt. I know they like the Algae wafers and I seem to remember reading
that they like BBA, which I have.