More Tiger Barbs? - Aquarium Advice

875mill · 02-09-2006, 11:25 AM

Two months ago I lost 2 tiger barbs and 2 neon tetras to some mysterious illness. I now have 4 barbs, 4 serpea tetras, 1 neon, 1 dwarf fame gourami, and 1 common pleco in a 20 gallon tank. I dont think I will be replacing the neons, but i would like to add more barbs. Question is I've had these barbs for almost 3 years now and they are much larger than any I'm going to find at my LFS. Do you think it would be wise to introduce some new smaller barbs to my older much larger school? Btw does anyone know the average lifespan of tigerbarbs? TIA

malkore · 02-09-2006, 11:29 AM

tiger barbs can live quite a few years...I wanna say the oldest I've heard is 6 years, but I believe that was from birth.

It seems like whenever I tried to add small barbs to my adults (who I've had for 2 years) they always seemed to not get enough food, and died after a couple months

Also, barbs are such active swimmers, I wouldn't wanna crowd too many into a 20gallon. I really feel a 29gal is the minimum size for adults.

So I'd say keep it at 4.

YuccaPatrol · 02-09-2006, 11:30 AM

This profile says lifespan of 5 years, so you probably did very well caring for your fish.

http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-TigerBarb.htm

talloulou · 02-09-2006, 01:57 PM

I know my local petsmart sells small tiger barbs in one tank and then much bigger more mature ones in another tank. So if you find that your school is too small and they bothering the gourami check out petsmart for some bigger ones.

875mill · 02-09-2006, 05:12 PM

I'm thinking about moving the gourami to my new 29 gallon. I never see him getting picked on by the other fish, but he just doesnt seem happy. He has lost alot of color since i got him, and I think just the activity of the barbs and tetras make him nervous. He spend all of his time hiding. I hardly ever see him.

anythingscales · 02-10-2006, 01:40 AM

Gouramis get very large and need a bigger tank than a 29 gallon. Ive kept gouramis in a 60 gallon with a sorts of schooling fish and it was thriving in there.

875mill · 02-10-2006, 01:54 AM

sorry didnt mention that its a DWARF flame gourami.

tropicfishman · 02-10-2006, 02:15 AM

yeah i wouldn't add smaller barbs with adult barbs, they do get bullied out of ood alot and usually die, if you can buy some bigger barbs

02-09-2006, 11:25 AM	#1
875mill Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: hanson ky Posts: 149 Images: 5	More Tiger Barbs? Two months ago I lost 2 tiger barbs and 2 neon tetras to some mysterious illness. I now have 4 barbs, 4 serpea tetras, 1 neon, 1 dwarf fame gourami, and 1 common pleco in a 20 gallon tank. I dont think I will be replacing the neons, but i would like to add more barbs. Question is I've had these barbs for almost 3 years now and they are much larger than any I'm going to find at my LFS. Do you think it would be wise to introduce some new smaller barbs to my older much larger school? Btw does anyone know the average lifespan of tigerbarbs? TIA

02-09-2006, 11:29 AM	#2
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	tiger barbs can live quite a few years...I wanna say the oldest I've heard is 6 years, but I believe that was from birth. It seems like whenever I tried to add small barbs to my adults (who I've had for 2 years) they always seemed to not get enough food, and died after a couple months Also, barbs are such active swimmers, I wouldn't wanna crowd too many into a 20gallon. I really feel a 29gal is the minimum size for adults. So I'd say keep it at 4. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

02-09-2006, 01:57 PM	#4
talloulou Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 2,092 Images: 17	I know my local petsmart sells small tiger barbs in one tank and then much bigger more mature ones in another tank. So if you find that your school is too small and they bothering the gourami check out petsmart for some bigger ones. __________________ http://talloulou.smugmug.com/

02-10-2006, 01:40 AM	#6
anythingscales Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SO CAL Posts: 106	Gouramis get very large and need a bigger tank than a 29 gallon. Ive kept gouramis in a 60 gallon with a sorts of schooling fish and it was thriving in there. __________________ 60 gallon Hydrocynus vittatus 5" channa gachua 4" Danio malabaricus 3" x2 Balantiocheilus melanopterus 3" Geophagus Altrifons 2" x4 Peacock Cichlids? 3"

02-10-2006, 02:15 AM	#8
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	yeah i wouldn't add smaller barbs with adult barbs, they do get bullied out of ood alot and usually die, if you can buy some bigger barbs __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

02-09-2006, 11:30 AM	#3
YuccaPatrol Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Burning-Ham Alabama Posts: 170 Images: 9	This profile says lifespan of 5 years, so you probably did very well caring for your fish. http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-TigerBarb.htm

02-09-2006, 05:12 PM	#5
875mill Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: hanson ky Posts: 149 Images: 5	I'm thinking about moving the gourami to my new 29 gallon. I never see him getting picked on by the other fish, but he just doesnt seem happy. He has lost alot of color since i got him, and I think just the activity of the barbs and tetras make him nervous. He spend all of his time hiding. I hardly ever see him.

02-10-2006, 01:54 AM	#7
875mill Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: hanson ky Posts: 149 Images: 5	sorry didnt mention that its a DWARF flame gourami.

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