Will gold barbs thrive in a tank such as the one in my signature? The tank has been running for about a year in the present configuration and there should be plenty of filtration. If they can hold their own with the tiger barbs would a group of 6-8 be preferable? Thanks!
Gold barbs: friends or whipping boys?
- Thread starter Grundy
- Start date
What I'm looking for is another facet to the tank. I had originally thought about adding a "centerpiece" fish but I am trying to keep the fish on the smaller size and make this a nice home for them. A second school of fish is an idea - that is why I am thinking about the gold barbs. I am also considering rosy barbs and possibly serpaes. I know they can be housed together and "survive" but ideally I want a tank that can "thrive". Any thoughts would be appreciated. 
A tinfoil barb would make quite a centerpiece! 
Are your ruby barbs the black ruby ones B nigrofasciatus, or ruby barbs B. ticto? If they're ticto, rosy barbs will look very similar. Rosy barbs really color up when they're happy. I've been seeing a bunch of 3/8" fry in one of my tanks, and they're either rosy barb or diamond tetra fry. I'm betting they're barbs.
If you can find the horizontal stripe barb B eugrammus (fasciatus?) that would be a very different look. I think they get about 4" long, though.
If they're happy, those checkerboard barbs (oligolepis) can look pretty spectacular. They top out in the 2" range, and they sure look crappy when they're little and in a dealers tank. I picked up one from a $1 dealers tank, and I'm hoping they get more at that price- the one I've got is looking good! Poor little guy!
Are your ruby barbs the black ruby ones B nigrofasciatus, or ruby barbs B. ticto? If they're ticto, rosy barbs will look very similar. Rosy barbs really color up when they're happy. I've been seeing a bunch of 3/8" fry in one of my tanks, and they're either rosy barb or diamond tetra fry. I'm betting they're barbs.
If you can find the horizontal stripe barb B eugrammus (fasciatus?) that would be a very different look. I think they get about 4" long, though.
If they're happy, those checkerboard barbs (oligolepis) can look pretty spectacular. They top out in the 2" range, and they sure look crappy when they're little and in a dealers tank. I picked up one from a $1 dealers tank, and I'm hoping they get more at that price- the one I've got is looking good! Poor little guy!
I believe it was your tank in the first place that gave me the idea. Nice-looking tank!gagaliya said:they will be perfectly fine, look my sig
They are balck ruby barbs. There were originally 7 (2 males and 5 females) but attrition over the last four years has left me with 1 male and 2 females.
coupedefleur said:A tinfoil barb would make quite a centerpiece!
I had actually never thought about a tinfoil barb - hrrmm? My only concern would be that I believe they are schooling fish and I don't know if he would consider the smaller barbs to be his homies. I used to have tinfoil barbs in the past when I had larger cichlids - tinfoils are definitely cool fish.
Will checkerboard barbs hold their own with the tigers?
Any thoughts on serpaes?
The main thing about tinfoils is that they can get about 2' long! That would be quite a centerpiece! They also seem to be one of those fish that is less likely to be stunted by being in too small of a tank.
A small group of rosy barbs or checkerboards should do OK, I think. They are pretty fast, and don't have long "target" fins.
A small group of rosy barbs or checkerboards should do OK, I think. They are pretty fast, and don't have long "target" fins.