OK, you can see how my 38 gallon aquarium is stocked down in my signature. My aquarium is fairly active, but I would like to make 1 more addition to it. I just wasn't sure what. I was struggling because the fish I really liked probably won't do well with the gourami, and the fish that might work I didn't like. I also was hoping for a different color than I have already.
Right now I have green (swordtails), blue (gourami), black and white (yo-yo loaches), orange and brown (clown pleco). I was thinking a red addition would be wonderful.
After doing lots of research, I came across cherry barbs. I have seen them at one of my LFS and they seem like personable little guys. I have seen them at the LFS mixed in different tanks with both serpae tetras and tiger barbs, so they seem to get along with different kinds of fish, and they would introduce the flash of red that I would like to have.
Reference works (including liveaquaria.com) say that ideal tank mates include gouramis, larger live bearers, and loaches. So these guys seem like the perfect fit. I go into the LFS and the lady tells me that they are fin nippers that will go after my swordtails, and that she wouldn't recommend putting them in with the gourami as the cherry barbs are very aggressive and will fight with the gourami.
It strikes me that she may not have a clue what she is talking about and is mistaking them for having the same characteristics of the tiger barbs, but either way I thought I'd run it by people that may have experience with these combinations. I'd like to know what people's opinions are. Would a small school of 6 or 7 cherry barbs be a nice addition to my tank, or am I asking for problems? This would be my final addition to this tank (unless someone dies) to address any concerns you might have with stocking.
Paul
Right now I have green (swordtails), blue (gourami), black and white (yo-yo loaches), orange and brown (clown pleco). I was thinking a red addition would be wonderful.
After doing lots of research, I came across cherry barbs. I have seen them at one of my LFS and they seem like personable little guys. I have seen them at the LFS mixed in different tanks with both serpae tetras and tiger barbs, so they seem to get along with different kinds of fish, and they would introduce the flash of red that I would like to have.
Reference works (including liveaquaria.com) say that ideal tank mates include gouramis, larger live bearers, and loaches. So these guys seem like the perfect fit. I go into the LFS and the lady tells me that they are fin nippers that will go after my swordtails, and that she wouldn't recommend putting them in with the gourami as the cherry barbs are very aggressive and will fight with the gourami.
It strikes me that she may not have a clue what she is talking about and is mistaking them for having the same characteristics of the tiger barbs, but either way I thought I'd run it by people that may have experience with these combinations. I'd like to know what people's opinions are. Would a small school of 6 or 7 cherry barbs be a nice addition to my tank, or am I asking for problems? This would be my final addition to this tank (unless someone dies) to address any concerns you might have with stocking.
Paul