cherry barbs

[Kittycat]

Are cherry barbs absolutely peaceful, or semi-aggressive? I just got a 50 gallon tank, which was bigger than I originally planned, so now I'm thinking of what other fishes I can add. I like small, colorful fishes, and already planning on putting in fancy guppies, dwarf gouramis, and platies. If you can think of other species you'd like to suggest, that would be welcome. (Nothing that is intolerant of salt, nor needs substrate, though) I'm considering tetras and danios, but I'm not too crazy about "schooling." Cories, too, but don't they need substrate?

 

[Lateral Line]

Cherry Barbs are very peaceful with other fish. They are not a schooling fish though. They are best kept as a pair, or trio 1 male 2 females. Males together may fight, although in larger tanks, you may get away with a couple.

>>> Cories, too, but don't they need substrate?

Cories are intolerant of salt, and many tetras also. You are going to have no substrate at all?

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

the worse i've seen from my cherry barbs is a little chasing but no picking, i have six in a 65 Gallon

 

[Kittycat]

Thanks, that's what I like about cherry barbs-no need to keep them in schools. I like fish that I can identify and tell apart from one another, and I don't want to be pressured to keep buying more to maintain the school minimum number if I lose some fishes.

I'll probably get a trio then.

I'm also thinking of neon rainbow fish, although they school.

As for substrate, I'm planning on putting wide short pots for planting--so those will have some substrate. But I would rather avoid putting substrate into the whole tank if I can.

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> I would rather avoid putting substrate into the whole tank if I can

This is none of my business, but I'm intruiged. Why, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Kittycat]

Just not used to it, I guess, since I started with breeding guppies and most people said not to put substrate.

I don't like the thought of cleaning it, either. I'm paranoid about dirt, I can't stand having poop sitting at the bottom of my tanks. With substrate, the tank surface can never be truly squeaky clean...

 

[Lateral Line]

A lot of beneficial bacteria lives inthe first 30-60mm of your substrate, (sometimes more, sometimes less - depends what your substrate is), when calculating your biological filter, you should ignore the "normal" figures, because they assume a good "in-tank" load, you will not have that. You'll need a larger biofilter out of the tank to make up for the lack.

>>> I'm paranoid about dirt,

Fish in the wild are not. They thrive on it. If you try to apply a "squeaky clean" approach to aquariums, you are letting yourself in for 10x as much work and a whole mass of trouble. Fish did not eveolve in "clean" conditions.

 

[Kittycat]

If you try to apply a "squeaky clean" approach to aquariums, you are letting yourself in for 10x as much work and a whole mass of trouble. Fish did not eveolve in "clean" conditions.

Yep, I am. I used to do daily partial water changes with my tanks. But now that I have five, I've been slacking off to doing them every few days or so...