Stocking cycled tank

[LemmiWinks]

My 29 gallon tank just finished cycling and i put 5 tiger barbs in it, from a thread i previously posted a few weeks ago i reached the conclusion of putting 8-10 tiger barbs and 1 firemouth cichlid. At the lfs today i was told that the firemouth should have a friend or it would get nipped at by the tiger barbs. is this true? And when should i put the other 3-5 tiger barbs in and when should i put the firemouth in do you think?? thanks!

 

[severum mama]

Nope. They are just trying to sell you more fish. The presence of another firemouth won't mean anything to the barbs. IMO they are very unlikely to bother the cichlid and will focus mostly on one another. I'd go ahead and finish stocking the barbs, then add the firemouth.