Tiger Barb Stocking

[RyanV]

Hi everyone I am having a hard time knowing what to add in my 55 gallon tank (220L). Currently I have 6 bueno aires tetra, 6 tiger barbs, and 1 red tailed shark. They are all still very new and young, stocked them about a month ago, and they all get along very well. My question is what to put with them, I had angels in there and they just got there fins eaten I am already planning on possibly adding a couple green or albino barbs, but was wondering if there's anymore fish I can add with more color?

What do you suggest I add?
Any kind of rainbow fish?
Are there any danios with a lot of color?
Could I add an electric yellow/blue cichlid?
Any other small cichlid that would work?

Also should I add any more bottom swimmers? I'm not sure if I can or not with the red-tailed shark...

 

[thereverendturtle]

More barbs, can be different types, cherry, rosy, etc... Rainbows, danios, rasboras, tetras, some dwarf cichlids like kribs, bolivian rams or for something larger firemouths would be good. No African lake cichlids. You could try adding catfish or loaches, just be sure there are lots of hiding places.

 

[RyanV]

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[RyanV]

More barbs, can be different types, cherry, rosy, etc... Rainbows, danios, rasboras, tetras, some dwarf cichlids like kribs, bolivian rams or for something larger firemouths would be good. No African lake cichlids. You could try adding catfish or loaches, just be sure there are lots of hiding places.

Do the colors on the kribs and rams vary? It looks like some are not very colorful and others that are? Also how many could I add if I went with a dwarf cichlid? What cichlids are african lake cichlids? Never had any before, sorry

 

[crazyforcordoras]

The electric blue yellow is an african. The colorful rams are German Blue Rams, wich are a no because they need higher. Water temps than most other fish tolerate. The others are Bolivian rams, wich are still wonderful fish.

 

[RyanV]

The electric blue yellow is an african. The colorful rams are German Blue Rams, wich are a no because they need higher. Water temps than most other fish tolerate. The others are Bolivian rams, wich are still wonderful fish.

How many Bolivian rams should I get, 1 or 2? Also how close to being fully stocked am I after I got the rams? Still room to add a few more barb and loaches/pleco?

 

[thereverendturtle]

The rams are best kept in small groups. You could add up to 6 and still have room for smaller loaches and plecos.

 

[RyanV]

The rams are best kept in small groups. You could add up to 6 and still have room for smaller loaches and plecos.

Thanks for all the help! I will go see if I can find some rams tomorrow

 

[thereverendturtle]

Petsmart and most well stocked lfs should have them in stock. Don't worry that they are small and not very colorful, they never show their best in stores. Imo the colors are a little more extravagant than the blue rams.

 

[RyanV]

Petsmart and most well stocked lfs should have them in stock. Don't worry that they are small and not very colorful, they never show their best in stores. Imo the colors are a little more extravagant than the blue rams.

Question, I haven't got any cichlids yet, but I keep reading that the cichlids like sand substrates. Will they be okay if I have gravel?

 

[Sammy1911]

Hi Ive kept rams with both sand and fine gravel and they seemed just as happy in both! It would need to be fine gravel coz they like to pick it up and spit it back out

 

[RyanV]

Thanks, I should be okay than. As I get closer to getting a few more fish I am now leaning more towards kribs. How many kribs do you think I should add with my current stock and around 4-6 glass rosy barbs in the future?

 

[AirFarceLive]

Yellow labs are perfect together tiger barbs! my fish arent fighting and it looks beautifull!

AND DONT GET ANYTHING FROM PETSMART! Those fish are kept in poor conditions! Once I got a ram and it had ich!