Hi Mark,
Let me update you on the situation here.
The loaches totally lost interest in Barbs after 2 days. The Barbs seem to be doing fine, except for the continuing obsession with food:
(they are eating Sinking Carnivore Pellets, not exactly Barbs' food, but then they eat everything). This photo was taken two days ago, since then the coloration improved, and I also dumped the second Odessa installment into the tank
which balanced the sexes better and did not cause any uproar at all. (On the photo are the creeps that pestered the Gastros and quite upset about the move...the lowest one is a very unhappy male.)
I'm seeing a large increase in loach activity, which may be partially connected to dithering by Odessa's, but it is not directed on them. Barbs' bickering is not on the level to make the loaches notice.
Right now I don't see any danger signs. [I would not be very surprised if some Barb gets hurt during feeding---it became too intense--- but this does not count.]
Now, on murders. The common factor between my murder by Clown and murders by Kubs was barbs entering "loach areas". This is less likely to occur in my 125g since it is a larger tank and the barbs seem to sleep around the plants, which means in the "kuhli areas". I also don't have any loaches that protect their personal hole as I had with Kubs.
What is the layout of your tank? Could you sketch it roughly? Which loaches own which part of it, where do the barbs sleep/hang around?
Maybe this will give a hint.
I don't see anything else that can be done without getting some sense of your tank and I don't have it now at all.
I have a vague recollection of a Kub-Striata problem some time ago...I think it was yours? If yes, is this the same tank?
I hope we can figure out what was/is going on, Odessa's are very nice and really worth keeping...if this can be done safely.
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.
