Setting up a Species Tank - Barbs

[enrique4jc]

I'm planning a species tank for Tiger Barbs, Albino Tiger Barbs, and Green Barbs, and I have a few questions.

I would like to get a 29 gallon tank that is the same as the one I already have as they are going to be placed next to each other on opposite walls of a corner (I think I'm mildly OCD, into the whole symetry thing). So, in a 29 gallon, how many of each of these could I have? I was thinking it would be nice to put maybe 5 of each, but is this too much?

Also, what kind of tankmates would be good with them in terms of a clean up crew or something?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[leavundst]

nothing helpful BUT if you where really OCD you would have identical fish in both tanks. :idea: lol

[enrique4jc]

Haha, I guess you're right. I think the fish will be fine, but in all honesty, it'll probably bug me if the basic decor and such is much different.

[pleco4030]

Have you seen the red tiger barbs (not the dyed ones), they are really hard to find but if you can find them i saw get some of those too for the species tank

[jm1212]

i would go with a strictly one species tank for a tank that small with tiger babrs. they need to be kept in schools of at least 12 to evenly distribute aggression in the school, and if you want to have fish with them, 18 is ok but 24 or more is playing it safe.

for your size of tank, get 14 tiger barbs of the various color forms.

[H3D]

IMO a 29 gallon aquarium is little too small for housing tiger barbs; especially 15 of them.

[enrique4jc]

Okay, so I'm not entirely educated on this...Regular tiger barbs, albino tiger barbs, and green barbs are pretty much the same and will shoal together right? Because those three are really all I'm talking about, apart from perhaps something to be a scavenger. Is it okay to put the three of them in together?

[cohazard]

I agree with H3D on the topic of a 29g being a little small for a moderate sized school of T.Barbs.

Can I suggest gold barbs in one tank, and cherry barbs in the other? They may not look like much at the LFS, but when properly cared for, they are some of the most gorgeous common fish out there.

HTH

[enrique4jc]

So is it consensus that 29-gallon is too small for keeping tiger barbs?

[dmopar74]

maybe a shoal of 15, but 5 or so i see no prob. they only get 3" at the most.

[enrique4jc]

Well, my initial plan was for 10-15 total in a mix of standard tiger, albino tiger, and green tiger barb. I thought that they would shoal together, even in their mixed colors. If this isnt going to work, perhaps I should rethink things a bit.

[H3D]

maybe a shoal of 15, but 5 or so i see no prob. they only get 3" at the most. Stocking is not always just about the size of the fish, but also about how much space each of those fish need. Tiger barbs need a certain amount of space or they become really aggressive. I have 8 tiger barbs in my 90 gallon and they are not aggressive at all.

[coupedefleur]

You don't usually need a clean-up crew for barbs. They are always hungry and will search the bottom for any scraps of food.

[KJoFan]

I have a 46g bowfront with 16 tiger barbs in now, with even numbers of regular tigers, albino and green. I was aiming for 18, which I started with but currently have some mysterious illness trying to wipe some of them out. I have a thread on that if anyone has any insight to share. :) Anyway, my point is, I intend to get back to 18 whenever I can kick this illness. I have a couple striated loaches in there, but they hide in the driftwood and I never see them. I also have a cae in there, but I don't know it'll stay or not. I would think you could probably safely do 10-12 barbs in yoru 29g, but I'm no expert.

[dmopar74]

Stocking is not always just about the size of the fish, but also about how much space each of those fish need. Tiger barbs need a certain amount of space or they become really aggressive. I have 8 tiger barbs in my 90 gallon and they are not aggressive at all.

well i guess i just got lucky because i have only 3 and they never fight or harass any of my other fish, they dont even get more than 5" away from each other most of the time. they were in a 29g with 11 other fish which were much larger and much smaller. yeah i know it was way overstocked but all are now in my 90g. personally unless your stocking fish that you know arent compatible, give it a try-it might work. if it doesnt move on.

[bartman_60042]

I currently have 8 tigers in my 55 along with 4 corys, a 6" cae and a rafael catfish. The tigers do not bother the corys much and the cae does not get bothered by any of them.

Many times the tigers school with the corys and all 12 of them can be seen swimming together.