Denison (torpedo) Barbs

[GordonTGopher]

Yep another new tank question . I'm in the process of setting up my second tank - 125l (33US gall) with a fluval 305 external filter).
I thought I had the stocking all sorted but another post here pointed me at thinkfish.co.uk and their community creator, which raised the issue of the Denison barbs, I'm aware some of these tools are a little inaccurate , so thought I'd ask the assembled wisdom of you folks

The fish I had planned were:

Dension barbs
Pearl Gouramis
Moonlight Gouramis
Dwarf Gouramis
Marbled hatchet fish
Cherry Barbs
Clown loaches
Upsidedown catfish
BN plec

The creator tool suggested that Denisons barbs maybe too active for the Hatchets, too large for the cherry barbs and too active / too large for the dwarf gouramis.

Anybody like to make a comment on the issue ( or for that matter the overall makeup of the tank).

Thanks in advance

Gordon

 

[wendywc]

I would think that a group of denison barbs would be too large for a 33 gallon tank. From the sizes I've seen, they get to 5" each so a 55 gallon would be better for a group to have swimming room. I haven't owned them, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

I wouldn't put clown loaches in a tank that size either; maybe dwarf/chain loaches instead.

Are the moonlight gouramis also called blue gouramis... if so, they can get slightly aggressive; I'd just stick to pearl and dwarf gouramis instead.

All in all, I think that list is too much fish for a 33... or is this list of fish just the possible contenders to put into the tank?

 

[GordonTGopher]

Wendy,
Thanks for the thoughts. I'd had concerns about the size as well, i'd seen 5" as a target length, along with comments that they wouldn't reach that in captivity, so was hoping they'd be alright.

The Moonlight gourami is Trichogaster microlepis, and to be honest will be the first off the list if I'm getting over ambitious!

Point taken on the clown loaches, although I was sure I'd read comments from others who had them in a 33gal quite happily.

The list is what I'd like to build up to over time, I haven't got the cash to buy them as quickly as the tank matures. I'd planned to stop i fthe tank was starting to look too full (allowing growth room).



Cheers,

Gordon

 

[wendywc]

I have seen 5" denison barbs at the fish store... it doesn't sound big, but a group of them together were more active thatn I expected. My LFS's show tank has them in a mixed community with hatchets, yoyo loaches, and others (?, can't remember whatelse). I would need to go back and see how big of a tank they are in, but it was definately bigger than 33 gallons. I made a mental note of it myself, because those denison barbs caught my eye too.

 

[Glod]

As far as most around here are concerned the thinkfish calculator is way off the mark with regards to stocking levels. It allows you to put far too many fish in the tank.

Moonlight Gouramis get to about 6 inches. Admittedly they're not the most active fish, so depending on the dimensions of the tank it may be ok.
Dennison Barbs, I agree with Wendy, they're far too large and active for such a small tank. I wouldn't put them in anything under 4 feet, and even that would be cramped in my opinion.
Clown loaches get too big as you've noticed, but there are many loaches that would be ideal in your tank - Zebra loaches for example are fun to watch.

Based on that list I'd suggest something like ..

1 pearl Gourami (4")
1 male Dwarf Gourami. (2.5")
3-4 Upside down Cats (12-16 ")
3 zebra loaches/kuhli loaches (10")
1 small plec. Maybe consider a Clown Plec as they stay a bit smaller ? Tho a BN should be ok. (6")
And a small shoal of 2" barbs or tetras... rummynose tetras maybe ? or the hatchets if preferred.

Just a thought. That could still be classed as fairly heavy stocking, but the inhabitants are spread across all areas of the tank so there should be swimming room.
The general guideline is to aim for 1 inch of adult fish per gallon.

 

[GordonTGopher]

Based on that list I'd suggest something like ..

1 pearl Gourami (4")
1 male Dwarf Gourami. (2.5")
3-4 Upside down Cats (12-16 ")
3 zebra loaches/kuhli loaches (10")
1 small plec. Maybe consider a Clown Plec as they stay a bit smaller ? Tho a BN should be ok. (6")
And a small shoal of 2" barbs or tetras... rummynose tetras maybe ? or the hatchets if preferred.

Thanks for the thoughts, having reviewed the comments and thought practically rather than emotionally the Denisons are out the (metaphorical) window and the clowns loaches will probably follow them!

The BN plec is included because he is moving from my smaller tank as he's grown to 3" or so already.

I'm not too worried at taking the stocking level close to the limit as I'm running an external filter that can cope with nearly 3* my tank capacity, so as long as the fish have room to swim and visually it's not overcrowded I should be OK.

Having down the sums I'd sussed out that the thinkfish calculator allowed too many fish, but I found the "compatability" comments useful / thought provoking.

Thanks again for the thoughts.


Gordon

 

[stevenufc]

i have four denisons in with cardinal tetra's, zebra loaches,zebra danio's and plecs and they get on great.

the denisons are not at all aggressive and spend a lot of time swimming out across the front of my tank a good focal point fish i would recommend them


steve

 

[GordonTGopher]

i have four denisons in with cardinal tetra's, zebra loaches,zebra danio's and plecs and they get on great.

the denisons are not at all aggressive and spend a lot of time swimming out across the front of my tank a good focal point fish i would recommend them


steve

Steve,
Which of your tanks are they in and how old are they (that's the fish not the tank )?

Thanks for the input.

Gordon

 

[DarkEntity]

125 Litre tank definately isnt large enough for a shoal of Denisons. Ive seen Denisons which are nigh 7" in length, i would probably only look at them in a tank at least twice yours.

They are stunning fish when in a large group though