stocking Tiger Barbs

[tttnjfttt]

When I had my first tank, that was disasterously overstocked, I fell in love with tiger barbs. (Darn pet store people , but thats a totally different topic). Anyways, I now have a 20 gallon tank, the biggest I could afford, and am considering putting tiger barbs in. I was doing some research online, and I can't find anything consistant about minimum tank size, minimum to keep etc. Could someone tell me what the minimum tank size for tiger barbs are? Also, how big will they actually get?

Thanks,
Nicole

 

[ccg]

Hey Nicole,

I know what you mean about finding finding consistant information on tank sizes. I keep tiger barbs myself and I think you could get away with keeping them happy in a 20 gallon tank. Be sure not to over stock the tank, and to add the fish over time, not all at once.

In my experience I have had tiger barbs that are nearly 3 inches in length, but for the most part they seem to grow about 2.5 inches, give or take a little. I keep them in both a 35 and a 45 gallon I have setup.

Good luck!

EDIT: Welcome to the boards , hope you find all the info you are looking for. Feel free to ask away and I will help you with whatever I can.

 

[Grouchy]

My tiger barbs are roughly 2" in size. Max is 3" but you are probably looking 2" or more for average size. The standard guideline for stocking is 1" of fish per gallon so roughly 8-10 tiger barbs less any other fish (plecos, loaches).

A shoal of 8 should be fine. There will be enough barbs to allow them to do their own little pecking order and territory.

 

[ccg]

I noticed in her sig that she has 3 zebra danios, maybe she could get a few more of those, and about 6 tiger barbs? That sounds good to me. Please let us know what you decide and how you make out with your new fish.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Thanks for the replies. I think right now i will probably get six tiger barbs and add three more danios. That should give me two schools of 6, 18 inches total. is there anything small (2 inches max) that i can also add that will b more a bottom dwelling fish? Don't worry, I am not planing on going out and buying all these fish at once.

thanks,
Nicole

 

[The-Wolf]

one the tank is matured you can add 3 otos, good for algea
for a bottom dweller consider pygmy or false bandit cories, both of which stay relativly small.

 

[digital_run]

Although im going to go against the norm here...I really dont think 20gal is suitable for a group of tigers. It will be alright...but in my experience keeping these and other barbs they appreciate alot of swimming space. Make sure your tank has an open swimming space in the middle and some plants/decor on the outskirts for them to hide in.

Tiger barbs are (IME) very sensitive to poor water conditions and really require frequent partial water changes in order for them to thrive so i wouldnt use them to cycle a tank as it would probably devestate them.

DR

 

[tttnjfttt]

Wolf,

When you were talking about the pygmy were you refering to the pygmy puffer? I'm still new at this and don't know all the names. Also, when I googled false bandit cories (corys), i didn't find too much information on them. Do you have a link that might have some info on them or another name?

Nicole

EDIT: By the way, i like the otos, but doesn't alge mean you've got a problem wiht the water conditions? I also never had trouble with alge in my old 5 gal, which I had running for almost a year.

 

[gwlee7]

one the tank is matured you can add 3 otos, good for algea
for a bottom dweller consider pygmy or false bandit cories, both of which stay relativly small.

In my experience, tiger barbs have been very nippy to both ottos and cory cats. I had to ultimately create a species tank just for the barbs. I sleep better knowing that the tigers are just chasing themselves.

Also, if the 20 gallon tank is a 20 long, it will have the same footprint as a 29 gallon and the barbs would have a bit more length and width in which to swim.

 

[ccg]

For some reason my tiger barbs always bother the albino corys, but leave all the others alone.

 

[The-Wolf]

Wolf,
When you were talking about the pygmy were you refering to the pygmy puffer? I'm still new at this and don't know all the names. Also, when I googled false bandit cories (corys), i didn't find too much information on them. Do you have a link that might have some info on them or another name?

No I didn't means a pygmy puffer, they can be very aggressive and really need a species only tank.
here a link for the two I mentioned
Pygmy cory

false bandit cory