tiger barbs staying vetical, sign of ill?

[mikemou]

I added 2 tiger barbs to my new tank yesterday. They were active and all, but today when I returned from work I found them keeping a tail-over-head vertical position near water surface for long period of times, and very few chases. Is this a sign of ill? I've attached two pictures.

 

[Menagerie]

Are they feeding? Labored breathing? Is their color lighter or darker since you introduced them to the tank? How are your water parameters?
~OR~
I think someone said their's sleep like this. :?

 

[Fruitbat]

My tiger barbs do that all the time....and it still worries me every time I see it!

Apparently they like to rest in that position...who knows....maybe they just like the view!

 

[mikemou]

Wow, what a relief! To know that other tigers do that, too.

Yeah, there're feeding okay, I guess, although not as interested as the other 2 zebra danios....

THANKS!

 

[Overstocker]

Either sleeping or being overfed.

 

[Endgame319]

My barbs do that when they sleep, but I never see it during the day, only when I turn the lights on in the morning.

 

[millym]

hi there,
my tigers sleep in a similar position but not so vertical more a 45 degree nose down - they are very sensitive to any nitrite in a tank & often will go nose down if theres a nitrite problem. as long as your ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,ph levels are normal they should be ok. but i would do a test to make sure.

 

[mikemou]

Oh. Forgot to add that I'm cycling the tank with them plus 2 zebra danios. So there IS nitrite problem(or will soon be).
LFS suggested no water changes for two weeks.

 

[Menagerie]

To save your fish, do water changes. The cycle will take longer, but the fish will be better off.

 

[mikemou]

Fruitbat: I see you have 8 tiger barbs in your tank, has it really reduced their aggressiveness? I'm planning to add several more after the tank is cycled to keep their temper in check so that I can keep peaceful community fish like guppys, swordtails & tetras, or maybe even angelfish.