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I had 3 rosy barbs - one male, two females. This trio was always the boldest in the tank. They were the first to try new food, they would 'peck' at my arm while I was cleaning the tank and I had to watch them carefully because they showed no fear of the gravel vac!

But the male died a few weeks ago and since then the females have shown a dramatic change in behaviour. They have become almost invisible in the tank as they stay hiding at the back behind the plants.

The solution is obvious - get them a new male companion. But I'm just interested in other people's experience of rosy barb social behaviour. Have you noticed behaviour differences between a single, a pair, a trio or a school?

I have a group of 8 of them in my tank, great little fish to have.

By the way do you know how big they will get? mine must be about 2 inches at the moment.

Ive noticed, if you can feed them at about 6 in the evening, this seems to spark some breeding activity, they seem to pair or go off in 3's, chase eachother and spin around eachother. although they have never actually bred.

Interesting.. I have had Male Rosy barbs before, and they where always fairly laid back fish. Not shy, just not hyper. Last week I got a male and two females and they are in constant motion. Almost as hyped up as my Zebra Danios.

Of course when when I brought my Rosies home from the LFS I discovered that one was missing an eye. I kept her figuring that if I took her back she would have been "disposed" of. At least with me she has a chance at a full life. She is just kinda sad to watch. She swims lopsided, but other than that is fine.

I had a trio, the other way though...2 males and a female. At the risk of anthromorphising I have a feeling that the stress from the 1 male to the other was enough that it jumped out of a covered tank. Since then I've only kept them as a pair.
cols,
Mine are 3" or so, and as active as ever . They're now in the pond and really enjoying the extra room.

^_^



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