Hiding Cherry Barb 1 Of 8

You could try rearranging things - this usually works with territorial fish as it forces them to set up new territories. But it may not work here because cherry barbs are not territorial fish like apistogrammas, for example. A lot of shoaling fish do form hierarchies within the shoal and the 'top fish' keeps his place by picking on the lower members. This sounds more like what is happening here.

You could try using a turkey baster to place food right in front of of the barb that's hiding.

It appears things have taken a turn for the worst with my little Cherry Barb, he's not moved much for a couple of days now so I've put him in a little nursery tank off the main tank, he's not moving much and doesn't appear to be eating.  YouTube clip attached, is he a gonner, or can anyone see anything that's wrong with him that I could help?

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72NgEGAHoJQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72NgEGAHoJQ</a>

His right eye looks swollen and opaque. I couldn't get a good look at his left eye in the video - is it the same as the right eye or normal?

Protruding eyes can be due to a few things.
When it affects just one eye it is usually physical damage. This can clear up by itself provided the water is kept clean.
Both eyes suggest an internal infection; some swelling inside the fish which is pushing both eyes outwards. The problem is trying to work out what is causing the infection.

I am loathe to suggest medicating the tank since it is so new - or to be precise, since the bacteria in there haven't bedded in yet. One option would be to pick up a small tank such as those plastic tanks sold for children (but take out the decor!) and some eSHa 2000 or Waterlife Myxazin and treat him in the small tank. I know the filter won't be cycled but if you do large water change each day, leave just enough water for him to be able to stay upright and add more medication afterwards he should be OK. Provided the new water is warmed to the same temp as the water you remove, such a large water change will be OK.
If you do decide on this approach, leave the light off and add some decor to the tank. Any bits and pieces will do the trick eg plastic plants and bits of drainpipe for caves. You won't need to use any substrate.



But I do need to warn you - it is quite common to lose fish shortly after purchase. They have been through a lot of stress in the last few weeks, from the breeder to the importer, to the wholesaler, to the shop and finally to your tank. It can all take its toll.

Thanks for the info, Yes I have a 20L container I could rig up as a makeshift tank.  However, I assume I'd need a heater, pump and makeshift filter.  I had a pump delivered this morning and could use @Matt makeshift water bottle filter, but would need to buy a heater tomorrow along with the medication and then keep him in the 20L container and see how he goes.  What timescales are we looking at to see if he improves?  If its terminate, would I see it in a couple of days, or if I get him in the treated water is a few days or potentially weeks to see an improvement.

If you did a very big water change every day you could get away without a filter, but it would have to virtually all the water. With 20 litres that's do-able. A few stems of a cheap plant like elodea would help by using ammonia and providing somewhere for the fish to hide.
But you would need a heater. Or use Matt's suggestion.

If your LFS is an MA, then it's most likely that this https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/product/aquacare-anti-internal-bacteria-100ml will be the brand of medication they'll sell. (Incidentally, a while back, I think I figured out that Aquacare seems to be MA's branding of NT Labs' products.)

It does look as though both eyes are affected, unfortunately; best of luck with the treatment. Not that I want to encourage you to spend any more £ than you have to, but you might find garlic-infused brineshrimp helps stimulate the barb's appetite. It's also possible to infuse other fish food in garlic if you don't want to specifically buy this pre-prepared garlic-infused food.

Some medications say to dose every day, others only on certain days, missing out some days between doses.
For the dose every day type, add the med immediately after the water change.
For those that don't dose every day, immediately after the water change add enough med to treat the volume of new water (to replace the med you removed)

If you do get a tank, remove any carbon in the filter as this will adsorb medication. Some small tanks have filters where the media is nothing but a carbon filled cartridge.

Sick Bay has been created with Myxazin treatment, a new heater, few strands of Elodea and his favourite fake coral.
He's only been in there a few minutes but looks like his eye has improved overnight in the main tank.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq7oJT6CXW8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq7oJT6CXW8</a>

Yep, its a 5 day course so its his new home until Friday Yep, daily water changes, +90% Tap Safe and Treatment after each change.

Great; keep up the good work and ensure that you complete the treatment course, even if he seems to recuperate completely before then. Fingers crossed for him.