Tiger Barb Compatibility

cheseboy · 12-16-2005, 08:36 PM

I like the look of tiger barbs and I want to get some for me home aquarium. Though I am not sure if it will be ok with some of the fish I have. Will the Barbs be agressive twords them. I know that the more Tiger barbs you have together the less likely they are to nip fins of other fish. I'm not planning on having long finned fish such as angels in my tank. So what do you guys reccemend for a good group size to stop fin nippping? Since I want the smallest group of barbs I can get without the fin nipping of other fish. Does the size of the other fish encourage barbs to fin nip?

Lexus · 12-16-2005, 11:33 PM

I have tried keeping 8-12 together to avoid nipping but it still wasnt sufficent. What kind of fish do you have and what size tank again?? They are beautiful fish, also they should be kept in a 20-30G+ because they are very active. My tigers were best by themselves or with certain other barbs. They say that green and albinos are less aggressive but I tend to disagree.

cheseboy · 12-17-2005, 06:41 AM

I have a 20 gallon with the following fish that I plan to get that are non-barb.The rest will be filled with tiger barbs and other sorts of barbs.

1 Blue lobster
5 neon tetras

I could always find another beatiful fish if this one is a bit too agressive for my tank.

zork · 12-17-2005, 07:41 AM

i bought a group of eight tiger barbs they left other fish alone but they were terrible to each other personally i wont get them again it was nice to see some fish being bullied i split them up into different tanks in the end

ron v · 12-17-2005, 08:03 AM

Size of tank has a lot to do with aggressiveness of any fish, including tiger barbs. I once had a friend that had a large show tank ( probably 125 - 150 gal ) with nothing in it but tiger barbs. Probably 40 -50 of them. One of best looking tanks I have ever seen.

**Damon** · 12-17-2005, 09:56 AM

Tank size is very important (nice point Ron). While you need numbers to curb agression, you also need room. 10 tigers in a 55 works well. ANy smaller you should reduce the numbers which can also cause problems in itself.

cheseboy · 12-17-2005, 10:25 AM

So what would you guys reccemend as a good number of tiger barbs to keep in a tank. Pretty much over 5 is too much. Since I only have officially 5 more inches to stock and I don't want to over stock 20 inches of fish. So I probably can not keep the tiger barb right?

ron v · 12-17-2005, 11:16 AM

1" of fish/ gal. is not a good way to pick fish. That would only apply to very small/ thin fish like maybe guppies or neons. Not tiger barbs. I don't know much about your lobster, but not even counting him, I would add a group of 4-5 cory cats or something like that, maybe some sort of center piece fish and nothing else. I tend to think you should choose between the lobster and fish. Not both.

micstarz · 12-17-2005, 06:17 PM

Get a nice looking gourami maybe?

garfieldnfish · 12-18-2005, 06:05 AM

A 20 gal tank is too small for tiger barbs. I had mine in a 29 gal and they fought all the time. Now they are in a 75 gal and all is peaceful. I have 5 of them. It should be an uneven number to lessen aggression (5, 7 etc.)
Also a blue lobster and neons is a bad idea. Your lobster will take the neons out if he gets the chance while they are sleeping.

12-16-2005, 08:36 PM	#1
cheseboy Freshwater Shrimp Dude Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Age: 16 Posts: 340	Tiger Barb Compatibility I like the look of tiger barbs and I want to get some for me home aquarium. Though I am not sure if it will be ok with some of the fish I have. Will the Barbs be agressive twords them. I know that the more Tiger barbs you have together the less likely they are to nip fins of other fish. I'm not planning on having long finned fish such as angels in my tank. So what do you guys reccemend for a good group size to stop fin nippping? Since I want the smallest group of barbs I can get without the fin nipping of other fish. Does the size of the other fish encourage barbs to fin nip? __________________ 20 Gallon Saltwater Tank status: Full Blown Reef! For Information and stories Visit my Journal Here! I Love Inverts!

12-16-2005, 11:33 PM	#2
Lexus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 2,406	I have tried keeping 8-12 together to avoid nipping but it still wasnt sufficent. What kind of fish do you have and what size tank again?? They are beautiful fish, also they should be kept in a 20-30G+ because they are very active. My tigers were best by themselves or with certain other barbs. They say that green and albinos are less aggressive but I tend to disagree. __________________ 55 Gallon 2 Blood Parrots 2 Angelfish 1 Fantail Goldfish 46 Gallon 1 Albino Bristlenose 2 Angelfish 4 African Dwarf Frogs 4 Black Skirt Tetras 5 Zebra Danios 8 Tiger Barbs 9 Neon Tetras 13 Assorted Corys 29 Gallon 8 Daffodil Cichlids & fry 1 Electric Blue Crayfish 10 Gallon 2 Snails

12-17-2005, 06:41 AM	#3
cheseboy Freshwater Shrimp Dude Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Age: 16 Posts: 340	I have a 20 gallon with the following fish that I plan to get that are non-barb.The rest will be filled with tiger barbs and other sorts of barbs. 1 Blue lobster 5 neon tetras I could always find another beatiful fish if this one is a bit too agressive for my tank. __________________ 20 Gallon Saltwater Tank status: Full Blown Reef! For Information and stories Visit my Journal Here! I Love Inverts! Last edited by cheseboy; 12-17-2005 at 06:43 AM.

12-17-2005, 09:56 AM	#6
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Tank size is very important (nice point Ron). While you need numbers to curb agression, you also need room. 10 tigers in a 55 works well. ANy smaller you should reduce the numbers which can also cause problems in itself. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

12-17-2005, 10:25 AM	#7
cheseboy Freshwater Shrimp Dude Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Age: 16 Posts: 340	So what would you guys reccemend as a good number of tiger barbs to keep in a tank. Pretty much over 5 is too much. Since I only have officially 5 more inches to stock and I don't want to over stock 20 inches of fish. So I probably can not keep the tiger barb right? __________________ 20 Gallon Saltwater Tank status: Full Blown Reef! For Information and stories Visit my Journal Here! I Love Inverts!

Members currently in the Chat:0
	Users In Chat Room: There are several users in chat now! Don't Be Shy - click here and come on in!

12-17-2005, 07:41 AM	#4
zork The friendly Green Alien Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: penclawdd, a small village outside swansea in wales Age: 27 Posts: 16	i bought a group of eight tiger barbs they left other fish alone but they were terrible to each other personally i wont get them again it was nice to see some fish being bullied i split them up into different tanks in the end

12-17-2005, 08:03 AM	#5
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	Size of tank has a lot to do with aggressiveness of any fish, including tiger barbs. I once had a friend that had a large show tank ( probably 125 - 150 gal ) with nothing in it but tiger barbs. Probably 40 -50 of them. One of best looking tanks I have ever seen.

12-17-2005, 11:16 AM	#8
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	1" of fish/ gal. is not a good way to pick fish. That would only apply to very small/ thin fish like maybe guppies or neons. Not tiger barbs. I don't know much about your lobster, but not even counting him, I would add a group of 4-5 cory cats or something like that, maybe some sort of center piece fish and nothing else. I tend to think you should choose between the lobster and fish. Not both.

12-17-2005, 06:17 PM	#9
micstarz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hong Kong Age: 14 Posts: 658	Get a nice looking gourami maybe? __________________

12-18-2005, 06:05 AM	#10
garfieldnfish Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 661	A 20 gal tank is too small for tiger barbs. I had mine in a 29 gal and they fought all the time. Now they are in a 75 gal and all is peaceful. I have 5 of them. It should be an uneven number to lessen aggression (5, 7 etc.) Also a blue lobster and neons is a bad idea. Your lobster will take the neons out if he gets the chance while they are sleeping.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Tiger Barb Dying - Need Help	DanFraser	Beginner Freshwater	23	10-19-2006 03:35 PM
my deformed tiger barb	wingedjumper517	General Freshwater	6	03-30-2005 05:08 PM
white dot on tiger barb	DJ	General Freshwater	2	03-13-2005 04:37 PM
1 tiger barb getting picked on	garyg	General Freshwater	5	03-10-2005 08:14 PM
TIger barb dilemma: Please help	Sefu	General Freshwater	11	01-22-2005 01:40 PM