Tiger barbs in community tank help!!

timmyfishman

AC Members
Nov 7, 2009
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Hey guys i need some advice ive got 2 plecs 3 plats a Dutch ram 6 neons and 3 clown loach And im thinking of getting some green tiger barbs ive read in places they shouldent be kept with these fish but others have them in community tanks please help!!!:1zhelp::1zhelp:

Also my Dutch ram is acting kind of strange i went to feed my fish some bloodworm half an hour ago and his tail was braod and he was not eating.
 
We need more information in order to help. What size tank, how long has it been set up, and what are your parameters?

Kristina
 
We need more information in order to help. What size tank, how long has it been set up, and what are your parameters?

Kristina

:iagree: I don't know anything about tiger barbs but I agree that we need more information in order for us to be able to help you.
 
65Liter tank its been up at least 12 weeks its got 4 plants blue gravel some bogwood the fish in my tank are community including platys plecos neons 3 clown loach and a dutch ram all the ph and stuff is normal got a good filter a good heater got a nice airstone and a good current from my filter
 
I have 8 tiger barbs in a 75 gallon community tank with shrimp and endlers and various other fish and they don't bother anyone. They really do need places to blend in with to feel secure, like tall plants, they are a little skittish.
 
65 liters is about 17 US gallons. Unfortunately, because of your clown loaches, you are already very overstocked. Clown loaches have very special care requirements. This is from a loach specialist website:

"This is a wonderful loach, but too large for most hobbyist aquariums. Allowed a minimum of 75 gallons or more, young Clown Loaches thrive in groups. They require large turnover, efficient filtration systems and current supplied by additional power-heads, frequent water-changes and great attention to cleanliness in the aquarium... Clown Loaches are often sold at the very immature size of 1.5 inches (4cm) or so, but they should not be considered for the smaller (or even medium-sized) aquarium. They will grow quite rapidly from this cute size to around 5 inches (13cm), thereafter the growth slows somewhat, but with good care in a large tank, they can easily reach 8 to 12 inches (20 - 30 cm). They are big, bulky fish at that size... A potential owner should seriously consider the long-term commitment in purchasing a group of this species, as they will require ever- increasing size of aquaria and may potentially live at least twice as long as some small dogs... Adults will eventually require an aquarium measuring at least 6’ x 2’ x 2’. Even small specimens of this species must initially be housed in an aquarium that is 4ft long as a minimum. Anything smaller can cause these fast-swimming fish to become stunted and stressed."
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/clown-loach-chromobotia-macracanthus

75 gallons is about 284 liters. And, if you've got common plecos, you're also looking at a fish that will grow well over a foot long. My suggestion is, if you want to add tiger barbs, you should first find the clowns and the plecos a new home. Unless you're planning to upgrade to a very large tank soon, they'll quickly be too big for you to keep alive in the 65 liter tank.
 
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Leah is correct. The clowns and plecos (most likely, there are some plecos that stay small but we need to know the species to determine that) already BADLY overstock your tank. You need to find the loaches and the plecos a new home, or get a MUCH larger tank. If you add more fish to your tank your water quality is going to go downhill fast and you will start seeing deaths. It may take a month or two, but it will happen.

We have a tank that contains tiger barbs along with rosy and cherry barbs, a bristlenose pleco (bn plecos only reach 3-4" at adulthood) a convict cichlid and 4 platies. Sounds odd, but it works. Sometimes the platies act like they think they are barbs. The difference is, this is a 40 gallon tank. 17 gallons is much too small for the fish you have.

Kristina
 
:iagree: I would also like to add something. Even if you did get rid of the plecos and the clowns, your tank is still too small for tigers. They get to be 3 inches long and need a lot of swimming space.
 
No matter what size tank you have and what fish you have, Tiger Barbs are snippy little creatures that love to take nips out of all other fishes fins. They will spend their entire day chasing other fish around to do this -- they are beautiful, but in my opinion, get something more mellow.
 
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