Betta/Honey Gourami and Tiger Barbs?

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Brambila

Registered Member
Jan 25, 2005
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I've got a 20 gallon with four tiger barbs and two cories. The tiger barbs and cories are mostly peaceful with eachother (with the exception of the barbs occasionally nipping on the cories), but are constantly nipping at eachother (no damage). I was wondering if it would be okay to put a betta or two Honey Gouramies in the tank with the barbs. I'm sure the barbs would nip at the betta, but I can't imagine that the betta would be defenseles against them.

Any information is greatly appreciated.
 
Brambila said:
I've got a 20 gallon with four tiger barbs and two cories. The tiger barbs and cories are mostly peaceful with eachother (with the exception of the barbs occasionally nipping on the cories), but are constantly nipping at eachother (no damage).
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Could you rephrase that please?

I wouldnt put bettas in the same tank with barbs. Barbs are quite the fin-nippy type, and it's hard for them to resist long, flowy fins like those of a betta. Though bettas can defend themselves, it's better to ensure no little fights break out. Cories, from what I know, will do fine with betta tankmates.
 
I wouldn't try it, tigers are notorious for nipping, especially when they're kept in small groups.
Honeys are fairly delicate fish that prefer small, easy-going tankmates and gently circulating water. Bettas' fins are very tempting for fin-nippers, as are honeys' 'feelers' (ventral fins). Neither is likely to cope well with a group of tigers IMHO.
If you want to cut down on the nipping, especially towards the corys, I'd get another two barbs. Keeping a group of six or more should help reduce the agression.
 
Alright.... oddly enough, the tigers have been harassing the Albino cories as well now... I'm thinking about either returning the tigers or adding one or two more to distract them. I heard that adding more of them will decrease the amount of nipping.

Are there any larger fish you guys reccomend to add to the tank?
 
I wouldn't suggest adding anything else to a 20 gallon tank. Tiger Barbs get large enough and a school of them will run that tank their own way.
 
In theory, some of the bigger Gouramis like Blue/Three Spot should hold their own against the Tigers, but as TKOS said, you're already close to maxing your load with the 6 fish you have, once they grow to adult size. Adding 2 more barbs will fill the tank. Heavily planting the tank should cut down aggression.
 
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