Why are my new tiger barbs hiding and not eating in their tank?

Thanks for your question about your fish, and congratulations on your new family members! I didn't see how recently the tank was set up, but there are a couple of things that could be going on. I would start by checking your water quality - any abnormalities in water quality can make fish have abnormal behaviors, and the water looks a bit murky in the photos you provided. There may be parameters that need to be addressed depending on what you find. If you do not have a water quality kit, they can be purchased at the pet store or an aquarium store, or you can take a sample of your water in for evaluation to these places as well. Some will charge a small fee for this service, just so you are prepared. Also, with recent tank set ups, it can be stressful for fish as they are in a new habitat. I would recommend keeping the light on for only a few hours per day to start, as the bright lights can be shocking for them (since fish don't have eyelids). Gradually you can increase the length of time that the lights are on so that you reach a cycle of 10-12 hours of light and 12-14 hours of darkness for them. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I wish you and your mom the best with the new pets!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is most likely just normal behavior as he adjusts to his new environment. As he gets more used to you, he will become more interactive most likely. Good luck and have a great day!

Yes, it's definitely common for pythons to take some time to settle in to a new environment - this can make them a bit more irritable about being handled for a while in some cases, and can also mean that they may not eat at first. I would recommend giving them a week or two to settle in before becoming too concerned about this, as long as they seem to be doing fine otherwise.

Thanks for reaching out. Sounds like new tank syndrome, which is the time it takes for the biological filter to come up to speed, reducing ammonia to nitrites to nitrates. Continue to test and perform water changes as needed, giving the filter time to establish. Good luck.

I think you need to give them more time. Don't try to mess with them at all right now. Ignoring them is best. Don't even offer food for 24-48 hours. They will not perish without eating for a couple days. Do not introduce any other fish or items into the tank until they adjust. That will just cause more stress. Hold off on the electric cichlids for now.

They may be stressed from the trip, the water may be too cold (low temps can affect appetite in fish) or the water chemistry may be off. Consider a partial water change. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. The fish food is fine. They will likely eat it once conditions are corrected and they settle down.

There are a few possibilities including normal adjustment or something wrong with the water quality. Also, you will need a bigger tank for Nutty that includes a filtration system. Here is a link about goldfish care: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-help-your-new-goldfish-thrive/ https://www.aqueon.com/information/care-sheets/goldfish Make sure the water quality is good for Nutty. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.