New to tropical fish - seeking some advice

[jonnyc88]

I'm quite taken by the Barbs. They will be very curious and like to explore all levels of the tank.
Thinking of getting some more Barbs but wondering if they play nice with another type of barb?
I currently have Odessa barbs (Puntus sp.) but really tempted to get some Cherry Barbs (Puntius Titteya).

 

[jonnyc88]

Nice looking tank, like the plants

Thanks, always wanted a heavily planted tank. I was a bit selective with the plants as I'm a beginner but they are turning out alright

 

[Retired Viking]

I was just looking at some cherry barbs that were on sale but have to research how well they would get along with my tetras.

 

[jonnyc88]

I was just looking at some cherry barbs that were on sale but have to research how well they would get along with my tetras.

I currently have some Odessa barbs and they play nice with my neon and cardinal tetras, even the tiny ones that just arrived.
I like how the Barb will something forage on the plants as the food lands there occasionally, they also sometimes forage on the substrate.

 

[Retired Viking]

I currently have some Odessa barbs and they play nice with my neon and cardinal tetras, even the tiny ones that just arrived.
I like how the Barb will something forage on the plants as the food lands there occasionally, they also sometimes forage on the substrate.

That is good to know. I am also thinking of buying another 11 neon or maybe cardinal tetra. My local Meijer has 10 for10 USD and if you buy 10 of the same they throw in another fish. I bought 11 neon yesterday to add to my small shoal of them. I also have glow light, ember and red eye tetra in my 55 gallon tetra tank.

 

[mbsqw1d]

I'm quite taken by the Barbs. They will be very curious and like to explore all levels of the tank.
Thinking of getting some more Barbs but wondering if they play nice with another type of barb?
I currently have Odessa barbs (Puntus sp.) but really tempted to get some Cherry Barbs (Puntius Titteya).

@Russjw has Rosy barbs together with his odessa

River stream 53g

Nice looking tank, are all the plants live? They look better than mine. All live apart from the ivy in the corners on back wall. Put these into hide air tubing etc. Must say they do look live and add depth too tho.

www.fishforums.net

 

[jonnyc88]

That is good to know. I am also thinking of buying another 11 neon or maybe cardinal tetra. My local Meijer has 10 for10 USD and if you buy 10 of the same they throw in another fish. I bought 11 neon yesterday to add to my small shoal of them. I also have glow light, ember and red eye tetra in my 55 gallon tetra tank.

I have 15 Neons and 10 Cardinals. They do tend to shoal together at times which is an interesting watch. Tetras seem to prefer mid to bottom part of the tank hence why I'm looking at perhaps more Barbs to complete my tank stock.

Tempted to get shrimps just to help clean the substrate and keep tank algae free but from research they are very sensitive to water conditions and prefer a grassy substrate. The grass in my aquarium seems to take ages to spread and grow lol.

 

[jonnyc88]

@Russjw has Rosy barbs together with his odessa

River stream 53g

Nice looking tank, are all the plants live? They look better than mine. All live apart from the ivy in the corners on back wall. Put these into hide air tubing etc. Must say they do look live and add depth too tho.

www.fishforums.net

Cheers for the link. Rosy and Odessa does seem to compliment each other well and would bring nice balance of colour to complete the stock in my tank.
Tempted but I've already spent £££ this month lol.

Perhaps it's better to give it 1-2 months to let the fish grow and reaccess if there's still room for more.
Russ has a 55gallon tank but with the fish it looks bit more crowded than mine now.

 

[AquaBarb]

Cherry barbs would be a better fit here, very peaceful and will certainly get on with Tetra.

Rosy barbs need a bigger tank 100cm (w) minimum.

 

[jonnyc88]

Cherry barbs would be a better fit here, very peaceful and will certainly get on with Tetra.

Rosy barbs need a bigger tank 100cm (w) minimum.

Yes, I was thinking about Cherry barbs not sure why I typed Rosy lol.

I think both Odessa and Cherry barbs don’t grow over an inch so should have some space in my 38g (145L) tank for 10 more barbs...

Someone should’ve warned me that keeping fish is addictive lol. I’ve just sat in front of the tank for over an hour just watching the fish.

 

[AquaBarb]

Yes, I was thinking about Cherry barbs not sure why I typed Rosy lol.

I think both Odessa and Cherry barbs don’t grow over an inch so should have some space in my 38g (145L) tank for 10 more barbs...

Someone should’ve warned me that keeping fish is addictive lol. I’ve just sat in front of the tank for over an hour just watching the fish.

Odessa's will grow bigger than the Cherry's. Mine are around 2 inches with a bit more growing left.

Cherrys are lovely little fish tho, my males are crimson red.

Yes they are very addictive indeed i only started about 18 months ago and have 4 tanks already..very enjoyable hobby and like you say can just end up drifting away watching the tanks for hours

 

[Byron]

Considering the tank size (dimensions more than volume here) and the barb species mentioned...

Pethia padamya (Odessa Barb) are too large; they attain 7 cm (2.34 inches) and are active swimmers.

Pethia nigrofasciata (Black Ruby) could work. A group of 10; gender is not easy in very young fish as stores generally have, but you should get a good mix with 10. If you can tell them apart (the red is male only) 5/5 is good. Easy spawners, and with good cover in the tank fry might occasionally survive. Active but not too much for the other fish here.

Puntius titteya (Cherry Barb) OK size wise, and not that active, but a group of 8-9. Larger groups will usually mean more interaction and the males in such cases are much brighter in colour.

 

[jonnyc88]

Considering the tank size (dimensions more than volume here) and the barb species mentioned...

Pethia padamya (Odessa Barb) are too large; they attain 7 cm (2.34 inches) and are active swimmers.

Pethia nigrofasciata (Black Ruby) could work. A group of 10; gender is not easy in very young fish as stores generally have, but you should get a good mix with 10. If you can tell them apart (the red is male only) 5/5 is good. Easy spawners, and with good cover in the tank fry might occasionally survive. Active but not too much for the other fish here.

Puntius titteya (Cherry Barb) OK size wise, and not that active, but a group of 8-9. Larger groups will usually mean more interaction and the males in such cases are much brighter in colour.

Thanks @Byron. We've just got 10 Odessa Barbs and they are settling in well so far.
They really compliment the tank so I'm thinking of perhaps x10 more Cherry Barbs for the colour.

However now that I've found out that Odessa Barbs can grow to just over 2 inches (which is about double their size now) I think I will have to reconsider... We've also got 8 Pepper and 8 Panda Corydoras in the tank. Peppers are now just over an inch, Panda's about 3/4 inches but I think they grow to same size as the Odessa Barbs, or just under 3inches. Most of the tetras (x25) are almost adult size now at just over 1 inch and I don't think they will get any bigger.

With that in mind I think my tank would be really full although it don't look that way now.

Unless I clear some room to get a bigger tank...

 

[Byron]

Thanks @Byron. We've just got 10 Odessa Barbs and they are settling in well so far.
They really compliment the tank so I'm thinking of perhaps x10 more Cherry Barbs for the colour.

However now that I've found out that Odessa Barbs can grow to just over 2 inches (which is about double their size now) I think I will have to reconsider... We've also got 8 Pepper and 8 Panda Corydoras in the tank. Peppers are now just over an inch, Panda's about 3/4 inches but I think they grow to same size as the Odessa Barbs, or just under 3inches. Most of the tetras (x25) are almost adult size now at just over 1 inch and I don't think they will get any bigger.

With that in mind I think my tank would be really full although it don't look that way now.

Unless I clear some room to get a bigger tank...

The cories don't factor in here, the space issue is all that I was referring to with the Odessa. A longer tank would suit them better as they are active. There is no issue with 10 of them and the cory groups.

 

[AquaBarb]

Thanks @Byron. We've just got 10 Odessa Barbs and they are settling in well so far.
They really compliment the tank so I'm thinking of perhaps x10 more Cherry Barbs for the colour.

However now that I've found out that Odessa Barbs can grow to just over 2 inches (which is about double their size now) I think I will have to reconsider... We've also got 8 Pepper and 8 Panda Corydoras in the tank. Peppers are now just over an inch, Panda's about 3/4 inches but I think they grow to same size as the Odessa Barbs, or just under 3inches. Most of the tetras (x25) are almost adult size now at just over 1 inch and I don't think they will get any bigger.

With that in mind I think my tank would be really full although it don't look that way now.

Unless I clear some room to get a bigger tank...

Tbh with 35 upper fish already and with the Odessa's still yet not fully grown id leave it at that.

Like Byrons mentioned they are active swimmers and need plenty of room to swim. Adding another group of upper fish will restrict that more. Thats just my opinion tho

Hell of a beautiful fish are the Odessa's so colourful and stunning to look at and is easily my favourite fish i own