Tiger Barb Questions

[ddm0502]

My tank just finished cycling and I added my first fish; half a dozen tiger barbs. My questions are more for curiosity than anything else. The fish are currently all less than an inch long. I'm expecting them to be about three inches full grown, and am wondering how long it will take for them to reach their full size.

Second, even though they've only been in the tank a few hours, I've noticed some individual personalities. The biggest one seems to have already decided who's boss. It's swimming arround with it's dorsal fin sticking up and pectoral fins sticking out, as if it's showing off. One of the smaller ones seems to hang ou by itsself more often. While the rest of them school together near the back of the tank, this one keeps chasing bubbles and then spitting them out, as if it were hungary and triying to find something to ear. Am I makeing the correct assessment of the behavior of my fish?

 

[Web Gazelle]

Not sure about how long it will take for them to grow to full size, it depends on diet and water conditions. The behaviour your seeing is because of the smal number of fish you have. As you add to the shoal you should see that behaviour deminish.

 

[Roan Art]

Build the school up to at least 10 -- you've a 55 so you can add a lot of them. You'll see the aggression lessen the more you put in there.

They'll grow pretty quickly -- should get to about 2-2½" in four months, possibly faster in a nice sized tank like that.

Lucky barbs.

Roan

 

[ddm0502]

I'll be adding more soon. The little fish look lonely in such a large tank. Even though I fishless cycled so I should have enough bacteria to support a larger load, I want to start small and work my way up since this is my first tank.

My suspicions about the little one looking for food was correct. After their second meal in their new home, the little one is schooling with the others, and now I've got a different one off by itsself searching the gravel for leftovers.

And now as I type this, I see the big one and the second biggest fighting each other. I didn't see them make any real contact, it looks like they were just showing. And now that it's done and there's happily schooling together again, I don't see any damaged fins. While they were at it, they both had their fins up high. After it was over, the big one kept it's fins up and the other went to hide behind a plant. Thse little fish are fascinating creatures.

 

[Roan Art]

And now as I type this, I see the big one and the second biggest fighting each other. I didn't see them make any real contact, it looks like they were just showing. And now that it's done and there's happily schooling together again, I don't see any damaged fins. While they were at it, they both had their fins up high. After it was over, the big one kept it's fins up and the other went to hide behind a plant. Thse little fish are fascinating creatures.

They are, aren't they?

They remind me of rainbowfish with the bluff and stuff, but the difference is that these guys will nip if they can and bows don't *usually* do that.

I had a few when I first started out. They didn't cause problems until they got about 2" and started after my dollars.

Roan

 

[rrkss]

Tiger Barbs are fun. If you watch them closely you will see your two dominant males locking lips and having a power struggle. Very interesting to watch. The males will turn bright metallic green when they do this.

 

[Sammyboy15]

i had some and they are pretty fish but the biggest 1 will show that he rules allo of them yes they do fin nip. lots of them are good and they grown to about 2-2 1/2 inchs like roan said. be careful because they like to jump out (well at least mine did). but overall nice fish that can be kept in large groups.
if ur i need of bottom feeders may i recommend pictus catfish i have some and they will be fine with ur tiger barbs but keep in groups of at least 3.

 

[ddm0502]

i had some and they are pretty fish but the biggest 1 will show that he rules allo of them yes they do fin nip. lots of them are good and they grown to about 2-2 1/2 inchs like roan said. be careful because they like to jump out (well at least mine did). but overall nice fish that can be kept in large groups.
if ur i need of bottom feeders may i recommend pictus catfish i have some and they will be fine with ur tiger barbs but keep in groups of at least 3.

I'll be getting some Albino Corys and possibly some loaches (don't know what kind for sure yet) for bottom feeders, as well as adding to the school of barbs (probably green tiger barbs). I've seen no nipped fins yet, but they were definitly trying. Since the first day, though, I haven't seen any aggressive behavior. Mostly schooling together peacefully, looking for food, and playing in the outlet current of my power filter. I will keep an eye on them, since I've only had them a few days it's not enough time to see whether they'll be aggressive long term or not.

I've read that they'll jump before. The only room that there is for them to jump out is about an inch ether side of the power filter. I'll be looking into finding something to fill the gap just to be on the safe side.

I love my little guys. I've only had them a few days and they're already my smallest friends.