BP with tiger barbs and tetras?

[Raechal]

My mom has a 55 gallon with like 8 adult tiger barbs and 6 adult black skirt tetras. They are about 2 inches each and get along just fine with each other. She really likes BPs and I was wondering if she could have on in her 55 gallon???

 

[longhorn13]

shouldn't be any problem, bp's don't really have the mouths to eat any of them

 

[Raechal]

shouldn't be any problem, bp's don't really have the mouths to eat any of them

Do BPs do fine by themselves like with just the tiger barbs and the black skirt tetras or do they prefer their own company?

 

[longhorn13]

they do just fine by themselves

 

[OoHeatheroO]

Honestly your lucky the barbs haven't nipped the tetras fins off. Barbs are notorious fin nippers. They will probably do the same to the BP. BP's also get 10 inches long. You will be overcrowded.

 

[longhorn13]

They will probably do the same to the BP. BP's also get 10 inches long.

i've got rosy barbs in with my parrots and there is no fin nipping, the barbs just stay to themselves. as for parrots getting to 10 inches...i guess they could, but i've had mine for 18 months or so and they've only grown maybe an inch (they're about 5 inches now) so they seem to grow pretty slowly. i think you'd be just fine

 

[OoHeatheroO]

They will probably do the same to the BP. BP's also get 10 inches long.

i've got rosy barbs in with my parrots and there is no fin nipping, the barbs just stay to themselves. as for parrots getting to 10 inches...i guess they could, but i've had mine for 18 months or so and they've only grown maybe an inch (they're about 5 inches now) so they seem to grow pretty slowly. i think you'd be just fine

They might be slow growers, but they DO get 10".

 

[freddyk]

I generally agree with Heather, as responsible aquarists we should plan for adult fish.

I'm not concerned about overcrowding, which is perfectly feasable depending on the many variables of the tank and livestock, and the person keeping it (some may shudder at what I'm keeping in my 75) but physical space is more my concern - the 12" width of the tank is not ideal for a full grown parrot and shoals of fish.

That said, longhorn is right, and it would be a while till she has to worry about this, so as long as she doesn't mind eventually upgrading or abandoning the fish...

A BP alone? No problem, but a pretty dull tank - like a goldfish in a bowl on a grander scale really.

 

[Lateral Line]

Barbs are notorious fin nippers.

There are hundreds of barb species, of which probably less than a dozen are in anyway aggressive.

People think Barbs = Tiger Barbs. Completely untrue.

 

[Synirr]

People think Barbs = Tiger Barbs. Completely untrue.

Except in this case the barbs actually are tiger barbs

 

[Lateral Line]

Yes, but that is not what the quote said.

"Tiger Barbs are notorious..."

"Barbs are notorious..."

Big difference. Something that I come across all the time, "barbs are nippers".

 

[sylvia]

In defence of tiger barbs, they don't always nip. If they are in a big enough school (usualy at east a group of 7), they will occupy themselves and all aggression will be harmlessly distributed within the shoal and won't have an effect on most takmates. In this case, BTW, 'black tetras' (which I assume are widows/skirts) are nippy themselves so realy they are capable of handling the aggression anyway.

As for keeping the BP with them, I personaly think they'd be ok though I'm not so sure it wouldn't be able to kill the tetras once full grown. The barbs should be quick enough to get away. When it comes to physical space, might I point out that the analogy of a BP in a 55 being like a goldfish in a bowl but on a grander scale is completely misleading as goldfish and BPs actualy get to the same size!

 

[freddyk]

might I point out that the analogy of a BP in a 55 being like a goldfish in a bowl but on a grander scale is completely misleading as goldfish and BPs actualy get to the same size!

good point. I was speaking about an unexciting tank - so many things you can do with a 55 gallon, one fish floating around isn't my idea of an aquarium, I guess