cherry barbs - peaceful or semi-aggressive

[shanna123]

Everything I've read said cherry barbs are very peaceful and not fin nippers. So I finally went to purchase my 29 gallon tank today (just got it all set up) and the lady at the fish store told me that cherry barbs are semi-aggressive and fin nippers?! Is this true? I was planning to use them as my starter fish - since they're hardy and beautiful - but she said they'll terrorize the tetras that I plan to get later...

 

[Squeakfish]

Cherry barbs are about the only barbs that don't nip fins, provided they're given a fair-sized school.

 

[Canuck]

Peaceful.

 

[msjinkzd]

They are peaceful barbs but do best with teh right ratio of at least 3-4females/2 males.

 

[Damodred]

Very peaceful. Just forget the 'barb' part of their name.

 

[KarlTh]

IME, most barbs are peaceful. Tiger barbs can be nippy in small groups, and some others if they're solitary (in which manner they should never be kept) but the association of "barbs = nippy" is erroneous.