fish not moving

Question
i just started and i  have a freshwater 55 gallon tank, i just bought 3 barbs and 1 id shark and they are all not really moving its almost as if they are sleeping.

Answer
Good evening, Steve, thank you for writing in.

When you say you just started, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean that you just started a new tank? Or that you just started with keeping fish in the first place?

In either case, let me point you in the direction of some reading material that might help you diagnose the problem (if indeed what you have is a problem with your fish) as well as an article on iridescent sharks (return that shark right now, Steve, I'm not joking! these catfish can get to be over 3 feet in length) for your reading pleasure:

http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/aquariumstartup/Aquarium_Startup.htm
A section on starting a new aquarium, aimed at beginners.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/
http://fish.mongabay.com/aquarium.htm
Both good sites on setting up a tank, the second one being longer and more in depth.

Also, please read here regarding keeping iridescent sharks in what may even seem to be a sizeable home aquarium:

http://www.fishinthe.net/html/fishguide/fishguide_fish.php?FC=34&nl=8&nt=5

Thanks for your question and feel free to write back, preferably with a bit more clarification such as how long your tank has been set up, and water parameters - nitrite (should be 0 ppm), nitrates (less than 20 ppm is acceptable) and pH as well as temperature.

Take care!
Nicole