Hallo everyone, I've just cycled a new tank and have started adding some fish, currently I've got two platties, two leapord cory's and a bristlenose plec, yesterday I bought and added a red tailed black shark about two inches long, I was planning to add a group of 6-8 tiger barbs later on but read some stuff on another board about how RTB's and tiger barbs can be intolerant of each other. I know both these species can be aggressive to other fish anyway which was why I was planning a largeish group of barbs to dilute the aggression to other fish and adding them last do you think I should go ahead with it or do without one species or another, so far the shark has been fine with the other fish in the tank.
Tiger barbs and RTB
- Thread starter roady
- Start date
How large is your tank? You'd probably be fine with tiger barbs in there with it as long as they have enough room. Your red tailed shark should be able to fend for himself and they're not usually TOO aggressive as long as they can have their own territory.
You know tiger barbs like to nip at anything with long tails or feathery type fins though right? Barbs just like nipping in general I think.
You know tiger barbs like to nip at anything with long tails or feathery type fins though right? Barbs just like nipping in general I think.
Amen on nippy tiger barbs!
I would agree that the shark should be ok - I would fear more for the platties fins!
I would agree that the shark should be ok - I would fear more for the platties fins!
I've seen tiger barbs kept with platies and mollies with no problems, the RTB is a possible concern but as long as you have a large enough tank and school of barbs there shouldn't be any problems. my biggest concern is the rate you seem to be introducing these fish. how large a tank and how quickly did you add these fish? it's hard to set a timeline from your post but it seems this was a short time. the bristlenose likely doesn't have anything to eat yet so you need to be feeding some algae wafers until the tank has a chance to produce some algae for it to eat. Even after that, bristlenose are extremely efficient at eating algae and will soon have little-no food left so you'll need to periodically add a wafer or a half a wafer as a suplement. depending on the tank size, I would probably give the tank a month or so to settle in before adding any barbs or other fish. KYle
The tank is a rio 125 and is 32x15x18 inches. The platties have been in there for two months before I added any other fish as I wanted to be sure it had cycled, I tested for ammonia nitrite etc and the readings are coming out fine, there was also a fair bit of algea when I introduced the plec (there's not now) and the two cory's but I drop an algea wafer in every evening. Is it big enough to add betwenn 6-8 barbs without causing too much drama?
The platties were starter fish so I might take them out anyway when my friends tank is set up and give them to him.
The platties were starter fish so I might take them out anyway when my friends tank is set up and give them to him.
Last edited:
ref tiger barbs and RTB
Okay after researching the measurements of your 125 rio tank I have determined it to be about 34 gals,,,You should be okay with the six tigers and shark,,,I would consider moving the platies if they start getting picked on and I would make sure the corys have a little place to hide if they want, like a low rock tunnel or something.
Okay after researching the measurements of your 125 rio tank I have determined it to be about 34 gals,,,You should be okay with the six tigers and shark,,,I would consider moving the platies if they start getting picked on and I would make sure the corys have a little place to hide if they want, like a low rock tunnel or something.
Tiger barbs are nice, but they will limit your choice of tankmates. A group of 8 will make a great display if you're going the planted tank route. Have a look here:
Tiger barb community
Tiger barb community
Thanks for that, unfortunately I have the same effect on live plants as Dracula's shadow, they always wilt, so I'm going with artificial (shrugs).
I do also have a large kind of ornamental rock cliff at the back of the tank that's got loads of hidey holes and caves for any fish that need a refuge. Bearing in mind the numbers needed to keep the aggression diluted should I intro duce them all at once or 3-4 at a time.
I do also have a large kind of ornamental rock cliff at the back of the tank that's got loads of hidey holes and caves for any fish that need a refuge. Bearing in mind the numbers needed to keep the aggression diluted should I intro duce them all at once or 3-4 at a time.
Hmmm, tricky one. If you have done a fishless cycle, you can dump them all in at once which would be best as they can just chase each other. If not, you need to do it gradually, up to 4 at a time, a month apart, so that you don't get an ammonia spike. I think you'll be OK, platies can move pretty quickly so i doubt the barbs will get close enough to give them a nip.
I have 4 tiger barbs and a rainbow shark (close relative to rtbs) and they pretty much ignore each other!!
~Tara
~Tara