Murder!! Who is to blame???

[Balashark]

Well, my tank has been set up, cycled, for about a month. The algea is under controll. Just when things started to look good, 2 flag tails died!!! They had many bite marks on their tail, but who done it?? Here is a list of fish in this 90 gallon aquarium
8 cherry barbs
6 emerald cats
6 ram,
1 flag tail,
1 clown pleco,
1 flashpleco,
1 snail,
2 opoline gouramis
1 silver dollar,
2 red hooks,
5 sm balas,
1 irredesent shark
1 whiptail catfish
1 tiger green barb, (my #1 suspect)
2 algea eaters
1 mickey mouse platy
1 clown loach



I have watched the tank, and none of them show aggression in any way. They dont even chase each other! So who did it????

 

[Mrc8858]

Could have been the rams or barbs but almost all you fish need to be kept in schools of 5+. Keeping them alone can stress them out which can lead to diseases, parasites, or uncharacteristic aggression.

 

[Mrc8858]

Also the balas could be to blame which I wouldn't keep in anything under 125 cause they can get quite large.

 

[shellieca]

It's also possible that they were bit on after death. Sorry you've had a loss.

 

[Samzter]

I think the balas. I feel you've added too many fish too fast. Them balas will need to be rehomed because of their adult size.

 

[Balashark]

Well. I bought the tank on craigs list. It came with fish

 

[Samzter]

Oh okay then , that makes sense.

 

[Balashark]

It's also possible that they were bit on after death. Sorry you've had a loss.

I noticed the flagtails injured tail the day before he died. Same wit the other.

 

[gavin00]

Balas ,rams ,or barbs .all super semi agressive ,,rams shouldn't even be with any thing but rams .

 

[Alyxx]

My guess is the balas or the tiger barb. They can be particularly nippy if they don't have a proper school. And no, rams make pretty good community fish. They could be a suspect if particularly rambunctious, though.

 

[Balashark]

The coaus of death has been decided.it was not murder at all! It was FIN ROTT. I have treated it, but not before it took a cherry barb.