Tiger Barb Question

[Shayne G]

I am about to start up a 29 gallon tank and would really like to begin with some tiger barbs. For those with experience with tiger barbs, what is a good number to have and I've heard their temperment is fairly aggressive, is this true and can anyone suggest some compatible tank mates.

Thanks

 

[baileya74]

I believe them least amount you should have is 7 being and odd number. I also heard that tiger barb are not hardy fish. They have a lot of problems, you have to be very picky when chosing your fish. Also, Tiger barb do extremly wierd thing like swimming at a 45 degree angle, swimming up-side down.
See what other members say.

 

[snakeskinner]

I initially bought 5 tiger barbs and already had 2 serpae tetras in the tank and they have never had any problems. I added 2 green tiger barbs and 2 albino tiger barbs. the albino's seem to stick to themselves but the greens intermingle just fine. I lost one green for some reason and added 2 more. I added a male and 2 female black ruby barbs and another pair of serpae tetras, lost the two female black ruby's to some medication and replaced with 2 younger black ruby's I'm unsure of sex yet. It looks like prettymuch any of this type of barb (except for the longfinned version) and nippy tetras and such are good tankmates. Other fast swimming fish do just fine as well. I have 3 giant danio's and had 2 green banded danio's. I also have a large gold gourami that has claimed himself king of the tank and harasses any new additions. The only problem I've ever had with the tiger barbs was when I tried to add a pair of congo tetras. their flowing tailfins were too much temptation for the tigers and they would nip at them. They are real fun fish that swarm more than school. sometimes there will be 3 or 4 singlefile chasing eachother in circles across and through plants. Sometimes a mixture of barbs and tetras, othertimes the same species. they are my favorite tank I have. Kyle

 

[mome rath]

Originally posted by baileya74
I also heard that tiger barb are not hardy fish. They have a lot of problems, you have to be very picky when chosing your fish.

I don't think this is quite correct.

From AC species profile:

The Tiger barb is a small, schooling fish that is popular among aquarists. The body is shaped in the usual barb fassion and is an orange color. Three large black bands run vertically on the body and fins.

The Tiger barb should not be kept with slow moving fish, as it will constantly nip the fins of slower fishes. This barb mixes well with other small barbs, as well as small tetras. They are hardy fish, somewhat tolerant of temperature fluctuations. Tiger barbs usually prefer to chase each other around rather than chase fish. Basic care should be taken with this fish.

Here's another page:

http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/external/ctsa/publications/tiger.html

 

[TheSmJ]

I had 4 (or it might have been 5) in a 10 gal. some years ago. The dominant one would focus on one TB it diddn't like, and CONSTANTLY pick at it, and not allow it to eat. After it died, it would go after another and do the same.

After this happened twice, I got sick of replacing them and just gave up entirely (I gave the last one, which happened to be the bully, to my mom). It lived in the community tank, and never bothered anyone (even 4 inch angels), but died within 1-2 months.

 

[meangene714]

I had 4 tiger barbs with 2 tetras, 3 glass fish, 3 firemouths, 2 jurupari, 2 rams, 2 hillstream loachs, and 4 synodontis cats in 100gal. One of the barbs would only bully the other 3 barbs. He would take turns chasing each one around the tank, but never nipped at their fins, or any of the other fish. Actually, he would try to chase some of the other fish, but they would not run from him. They just ignored him and he would stop and then chase one of the other barbs again. It was very amusing to watch. It almost looked like some kind of game that only the barbs played. I don't know if this is considered "aggresive" behavior or just having fun, but none of the barbs ever nipped at fins.

 

[LoneWolf1Seven]

Tiger Barbs are very hardy which makes them great for beginners and for cycling a new tank. I love Tigers and highly recommend, I have 6 tigers, 6 green tigers, 4 dwarf puffers and 2 plecos all in a 20 long tank. I have very successfully and easly breed them twice which their first offspring lives with 6 green painted tiger barbs, 6 glo lites, 6 neons, and a CAE. The last of their offspring lives in a 2.5 g until they get big enough to put in with others with becoming lunch. There are alot of different types you can get, tigers, green tigers, black tigers, black rubies, albinos, rosy, 6 banded and painted all of which have similar habits and should work well together. They are fin nippers and keeping them in a school of at least 6 should keep their nipping habits isolated to their own kind. Tetras are a good fish to keep with tiger barbs as well as, like I have dwarf puffers( my new favorite). Hope this helps and hope you enjoy.

 

[meangene714]

Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that they are hardy fish. I've used them twice to cycle tanks and never had a casualty. Someone mentioned something about them swimming upsidedown, which sounded strange at first. But now that I think about it, I remember once when my room mate over fed my barbs. One of them got so bloated that it couldn't swim upright. It swam upsidedown at the surface. I freaked out at first, but after a while it was kind of funny to watch. But he was back to normal the next day. Other than that case, I've never seen them swim upsidedown.