What kind of fish to start out with?
- Thread starter Kelbel
- Start date
Hey Carpguy,
You and I must have a different idea of what checker barbs are. Although the picture is poor (and I wouldn't buy any based on it), this is what I'm calling a checker barb, but they are not 5" barbs. I had 20 or so in a 55g tank for two years and they inch and half on average.
Val
http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/cyprinids/checkered.asp
You and I must have a different idea of what checker barbs are. Although the picture is poor (and I wouldn't buy any based on it), this is what I'm calling a checker barb, but they are not 5" barbs. I had 20 or so in a 55g tank for two years and they inch and half on average.
Val
http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/cyprinids/checkered.asp
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Baensch also says 4-5" IIRC. I wonder if this is a fish species where natural selection has tended to favour the smaller individuals in captivity?
I have never seen a checker over 2.5" and I've seen many. However, Baensch doesn't lie. And I'd recommend the dwarf gouramis only if the tank is cycled. They don't seem to do well in un-established tanks (you may have cycled, I tend to skim). Be careful though, this starts out as an interest, then a hobby, then an obsession, and if you're young enough, a career.
Hi all! I must giggle a little bit at voodoochild's reply...a month ago this started out as a hobbie, and today I went and bought my first 3 fish........and I can definetly see this becoming an obsession!! I am having so much fun with this. And my three year old daughter is really enjoying it also. And again I want to thank you all for your help!
Well here is an update. With everyone's suggestions in mind and a little help from a wonderful petstore that I found, I settled on 3 beutiful tiger barbs today! They seem to really be enjoying their new home, and doing well. And they are awesome to watch. Very active and playful. I am very satisfied with them. I plan on adding 3 more in a few weeks. (I can't wait!) And then a few weeks after that, I am going to get 2 spotted corys, I seen them when I picked out my barbs and just fell in love with them. Now....here is where I am needing a little more advice....I am considering going with 2 dwarf gouramis, but I am worried that they won't do well with the tiger barbs, or maybe 2 hatchet fish.
I am really undecided on what to put with the tiger barbs and the corys. Anyone have any suggestions??
Thanks ~Kelbel~
Well here is an update. With everyone's suggestions in mind and a little help from a wonderful petstore that I found, I settled on 3 beutiful tiger barbs today! They seem to really be enjoying their new home, and doing well. And they are awesome to watch. Very active and playful. I am very satisfied with them. I plan on adding 3 more in a few weeks. (I can't wait!) And then a few weeks after that, I am going to get 2 spotted corys, I seen them when I picked out my barbs and just fell in love with them. Now....here is where I am needing a little more advice....I am considering going with 2 dwarf gouramis, but I am worried that they won't do well with the tiger barbs, or maybe 2 hatchet fish.
I am really undecided on what to put with the tiger barbs and the corys. Anyone have any suggestions??
Thanks ~Kelbel~
I think Faramir may be on to something.
Baensch has them at up to 5, The Barbs Aquarium has them at up to 5.5", usually smaller (why I figured 4 as an average). Fishbase, which I always associate with wild specimens, has them at 5cm (2"). So then I opened up Gina Sandford's Aquarium Owner's Guide: "Size 2 in (5cm) although wild specimens can grow as large as 6 in (15 cm)". Mystery solved, and a new fish added to my candidate list.
And Kelbel, you may giggle now but you'll soon find yourself driving past fishstores (that aren't on the way home).
How does that song go? "A 10 is really much too small, I need a 29 or a 30… no, a 55. And if I'm going to get a 55, then why not a 75?"
Baensch has them at up to 5, The Barbs Aquarium has them at up to 5.5", usually smaller (why I figured 4 as an average). Fishbase, which I always associate with wild specimens, has them at 5cm (2"). So then I opened up Gina Sandford's Aquarium Owner's Guide: "Size 2 in (5cm) although wild specimens can grow as large as 6 in (15 cm)". Mystery solved, and a new fish added to my candidate list.
And Kelbel, you may giggle now but you'll soon find yourself driving past fishstores (that aren't on the way home).
How does that song go? "A 10 is really much too small, I need a 29 or a 30… no, a 55. And if I'm going to get a 55, then why not a 75?"
Now see, the biggest problems lies in that when you upgrade, you don't take the old tank down. The 10 becomes a 10 and 30, a 10 and a 30 and a 55, a 10 and a 30 and a 55 and a 125, and so on...Too many tanks, but never enough.
Hi Kelbel,
I don't think I'd do gouramis with tiger barbs. They're an active fish that has a rep as being a fin nipper. Which means they take a definite interest in other fish, and in a 10g, you've not got a lot of room for the gouramis to get away or to create their own territory. Danios are usually good choices for pairing with tigers, since they are the greyhounds of the fish business, but again, you've got just a 10g. If you think you want more than 6 tigers and a pair of cories, I'd go more the route of adding a couple more tigers. You'll have plenty to see and lots of activity in your tank.
Val
I don't think I'd do gouramis with tiger barbs. They're an active fish that has a rep as being a fin nipper. Which means they take a definite interest in other fish, and in a 10g, you've not got a lot of room for the gouramis to get away or to create their own territory. Danios are usually good choices for pairing with tigers, since they are the greyhounds of the fish business, but again, you've got just a 10g. If you think you want more than 6 tigers and a pair of cories, I'd go more the route of adding a couple more tigers. You'll have plenty to see and lots of activity in your tank.
Val
