Cycle Finished

Guber

A group of them about 3 to 4 are swimming back and forth through my bubble wall, it's pretty amusing to watch, the other 2 are kinda just swimming around the tank or sitting still for awhile then swimming. When should i start feeding them?

Twistersmom

Great looking cherry barbs!
When my new fish are ready to be released into the tank fish, I first dump them into a bucket, with all their water, then net them out of the bucket.

veganchick

I fed mine the first day I get them and they ate everything!

Guber

It seems like they ignore the food, they don't go up to the surface for it but when the stream from the filter pushes it below the surface they'll swim around it and maybe nip at pieces of the flake real quick. Also one has been just sitting down in the back corner near the heater for quite some time now, the others are out and about swimming around.

veganchick

you have to make sure its small enough to fit in their mouths, and naturally they do not go to the surface to get their food. The shape of fishes mouths shows what level they eat at. The fish who apear to be frowning, with the sides of their lips turned down such as bettas and guppies are top feedershttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2333396095_80e4e89142.jpg?v=0 where as fish with mouths that look to have a strait line, or a bit upturned, or slightly downturned are usually mid-feeders http://wb3.itrademarket.com/pdimage/..._tigerbarb.jpg, and fish with long barbels that stick to glass are usually bottom feeders, or algae eaters that don't care where the food is http://www.schillmania.com/photos/35...home/pleco.jpg

Guber

So it appears my Ammonia is now at .25 is that bad? if so what should I do?

onefish2fish

a water change. your tank isnt fully cycled or its going through a mini cycle.

Guber

So one of my barbs died :( I'm not sure exactly which one but I'm going to assume it was the one who sat around in the corner, the others seem to be doing fine all swimming around etc. Should i leave the group at 5? or buy another one to even them back out?

veganchick

I only have three, and they all get along great, and are quite happy, you should be fine!

Guber

Alright, my ammonia levels were up a little bit so i did a partial water change, the others seem to be swiming around like normal. Couple looks like they lost their color or i may just be paranoid and seeing things, I'm assuming the gravel vac going in stressed them a little. Also the 4 of them swim back and forth through my bubble wall and the smallest of the group is kinda just swimming around near one side of the tank...is that normal haha? I figured it was their way of playing and the small one may be intimidated? idk ;(