I just remembered reading that somewhere, but I guess that it does seem stupid. Maybe, if there is a series of one-on-one aggressions, this doesn't leave the odd fish out...I cannot remember the reasoning, but I guess that fish can't distinguish between odd and even numbers, so I would agree and probably retract my earlier statement until I can relocate the article.
question about tiger barbs...
- Thread starter K_S_W_I_S_S
- Start date
Actually, outside of pair-established fish like kribs, the usual recommendation is for odd numbers. This is based on the rather silly fact that small groups of odd numbers are aesthetically more pleasing than small groups of even numbers. Once you get above about 10 items in the group, there isn't a preference one way or the other.
Thank you, OG...I knew that I had heard something like that, but I apparently got it backwards and overemphasized a dumb reason for the "necessity" of such an enumeration!
~Matthew
~Matthew
there is a hierarchy among tiger barbs, with there being a sort of leader, and the rest falling into line below. it is recommended that you keep odd numbers purely on theoretical terms in my opinion. however, there have been excellent examples of the more spread out aggresion rather than centralised when tiger barbs are kept in odd numbers as opposed to even. incidently i keep an even numbered shoal of tiger barbs with absolutly no problems. but then not all fish are the same. the leader tends to have more intense colouring for those of you that are interested, and this colouring can clearly be seen when looking at clown loach shoals, with the top guy have the darkest black lines.
I think the whole even/odd thing is just a nice urban myth - even up to that famous quote "you have to buy an odd number, or else one will die" 
I guess it would restore balance to the universe, though
But, at least, IMO, odd numbers are more asthetically pleasing. I've got a group of 4 glo-lites, and they're always sitting in a square *blah*. Having an odd number tends to throw off the symetry. Of course, then one goes and hides...
There is definately a pecking order with barbs, though. The more you have the less chance of any one fish being picked on too much. Some years ago, I had a 15g with 2 cories, 1 butterflyfish, and 5 t-barbs. Barbs completley ignored everyone else, even those long fins on the butterfly! Odd numbers? Dunno, but the fish had a wonderful time chasing each other all over, and getting into their little head-tail tussles!
I guess it would restore balance to the universe, though
But, at least, IMO, odd numbers are more asthetically pleasing. I've got a group of 4 glo-lites, and they're always sitting in a square *blah*. Having an odd number tends to throw off the symetry. Of course, then one goes and hides...
There is definately a pecking order with barbs, though. The more you have the less chance of any one fish being picked on too much. Some years ago, I had a 15g with 2 cories, 1 butterflyfish, and 5 t-barbs. Barbs completley ignored everyone else, even those long fins on the butterfly! Odd numbers? Dunno, but the fish had a wonderful time chasing each other all over, and getting into their little head-tail tussles!
