Long-Finned Barbs: compatibility questions

E

Elspeth

AC Members
Mar 22, 2004
5
0
0
Missouri, USA
Visit site
We're just starting with tropical fish. We are starting with one 120 gallon tank and will be stocking another -- possibly keeping all fish in one 120 while they're still small and splitting the group later. Haven't really decided.

Currently we have: 1 common pleco (Liposarcus pardalis), 3 striped raphaels (Platydorus costatus), 5 bala sharks, and 11 tiger barbs.

The husband is really taken with long-finned rosy barbs, and I kinda like them myself. First, how large a group do rosy barbs want to be in? Second, I worry that they would be fin-nipped by the tiger barbs, although the latter do have a large group to push each other around in.

So how many rosy barbs, and if we go with the long-finned ones, should we keep the barb packs separate from the start?

Once we are ready to stock both 120 gallon tanks (not this week!), I am going to insist on some Clown Loaches. I'm also intrigued by pictus cats, brochis, glassfish, glass cats , and upside down cats. So any additional comments on what would go well together and what would not go together would be appreciated.
 
I personally think putting long-fin anything in with tiger barbs is a bad idea. They are notorious already and with long wavy fins they will be even more tempted...no matter how many in their group.
 
I agree. Most other barbs can be mixed with success, but I wouldn't put the long finned ones in.

You may want to reconsider your planned fish. Most of those fish are bottom dwellers, and a 125 won't offer much in the way of territory for such a large group of fish, all wanting to have the same spot. A mix of fish that use different levels of the tank will be more successful.
 
one other bit of info you may already know is that rosy barbs get much larger than tiger barbs, not that you are limited by space really. I like rosy barbs but just can't fit them in my tanks being that they are 4" schooling fish. I think most people recommend 4-5 fish to school. There are lots of different barbs that will go with tiger barbs. I have tiger barbs, green tiger barbs, albino tiger barbs and black ruby barbs. I've also seen odessa barbs, gold barbs and panda barbs that will go along with this group but don't have the room to add them in the current tank. There are also some other varieties that we don't have here locally. Kyle
 
Tando, how huge is huge for the pictus cats? I love their looks and their activity level, but have read that they will eat fish much smaller than them. So if I got one or more of them, it seems that they would limit my "small fish" choices.

It seems that the rosy barbs and the tiger barbs won't mix -- I suspected that, but wanted to ask. The current mix of the tigers with the bottom-dwellers and the balas seems stable, so it looks like the tigers will stay and the long-finned barbs will be in the other tank.

First-hand experience is a great teacher, and when I have more I might indeed push the envelope a bit here and there. However, I am trying to avoid having to post here in a month or so, "Help! My long-finned rosy barbs have no fins left at all, what do I do?" So I think I will not push it with the tiger barbs. :D

Snakeskinner, that's good news since we will have a large tank for them! They will be nice and visible at 4" or so. :cool:

OrionGirl, it's not a plan yet except for the rosy barbs and the clown loaches; it's a wishlist of sorts. Still, I didn't think I had that many bottom dwellers on the list! The loaches, I'm guessing, though they are reported to be-bop around all levels of the tank they are definitely bottom feeders. The brochis for sure. But I thought the pictus, the upside-down catfishes, and both "glass" types were mid-water fish? I'd hoped my wishlist might even leave room for one or two smaller plecs, actually...
 
The glass cats aren't that active of swimmers, and prefer a group to hang with--IME, usually towards the bottom of the tank, under some plants. Pictus are bottom dwellers--they like a cave to lurk in during the day, but will use the entire tank during the dark hours, when they are hunting. Clowns will also claim caves to hide in, though they too will be active in the rest of the tank. Sort of like a bear--only cares about the cave during certain periods, but it's really important during those times! UDC are surface feeders, but often a busy tank will prevent them from this behavior. They like to hide on the underneath of things--rock or wood overhangs, the underneath of plants, etc. This usually means the lower parts of the tank--not exactly the bottom, but close. It's pretty important that they can find these hide aways, or they become stressed, IME.
 
Eh, thanks then -- I didn't know that! Lots of hidey-holes aren't a problem, but floor space could be. I often see pictures and descriptions of clown loaches all piled on top of each other or in a tight resting group -- do they need a few large hideouts that the whole group can fit into, or lots of small hideouts for individual fish?

How about the glass fish, not the glass cats? Mid-level swimmers? It sounds as if I might be able to have my USD cat or cats if I don't have too many mid-level fish. On the other hand, don't clown loaches have a reputation for being kind of boisterous -- would that upset the upside-down cats too much?
 
It's not that tiger barbs and Rosy barbs won't intermingle, just the long-finned versions are likely to be nipped at. The short finned rosy barbs will do just fine. I really like their coloring, it's their size that limits me. Kyle
 
A mix of both kinds of hide outs will probably work best. This gives them space to hang out, while an individual can still get away if it's the low fish on the totem pole.

Glass fish are mid water swimmers--treat them much like other tetras. Not sure how they'll mix with the barbs--they tend to be pretty low key. They are prone to a virus--non-lethal, non-contagious--that gives them ugly cauliflower lumprs when stressed. The lumps go away eventually, but I've yet to see them come into a store without them. Just a precaution--no reason to avoid them.

Clowns and barbs are both busy fish--in fact, clown will school with tiger barbs, given the chance. The UDC will be okay, just not as active. Mine are seldom out and about, even though now they have few other fish in with them--keeping them with a school of danios 3 years ago was a bad move on my part.
 
I agree Tando Murphy but you can find the glassfish untouched. My wal mart does not carry the painted glassfish anymore but they carry "tropical fruit tetras" which are also injected. I never knew this until an employee at the wal mart told me not to buy them just for that reason. I was impressed he told me that. There is one LFS locally I have seen painted glassfish and I have told them I don't like it but as stated before, they buy them because people want them and if they don't carry them, someone else will and they'll make the buck and not them. Kyle
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom