Tiger Barb Swarm!?

[Shovelman]

Used to have some tiger barbs in one of my old tanks and would like to think about adding a large group of them to my 65 gallon planted tank. Only problems in the way are two things.
1. My recently purchased African knife fish...worried he might get his fins picked at or out competed for food, or he might try and eat the tiger barbs at night...
2. My soon to be 5 or 6 Toxotes microlepis. They are a fw to low end brackish species (don't need to have any salt though so can keep them fw long term) that get to about 5-6" From what ive read and heard, they are decent community fish. Just weary about them trying to eat the tiger barbs? I wouldn't think they could/would...

Also, feeling kind of bad about my African knife fish. Although i love this species, i think i rushed to fast in and bought him without regards to tank mates....starting to regret it even though he's a remarkable fish...when you can actually see him lol...as he is literally only active at night..and i think i underestimated just how nocturnal they are....

Overall i just remembered how much i loved feeding my tiger barbs as they literally were like mini piranhas and would swarm and dash in/ out of the food.

Any input would be greatly appreciated...

 

[simonas]

Ive had tiger barbs and a african knife many moons ago and the barbs bit the tail end of the knife fish off leaving it very sore

You only bought the knife the other day give him a chance to settle in he will come on to his own and be a very imteresting fish in your tank

 

[Shovelman]

Ive had tiger barbs and a african knife many moons ago and the barbs bit the tail end of the knife fish off leaving it very sore

You only bought the knife the other day give him a chance to settle in he will come on to his own and be a very imteresting fish in your tank

Do you think a school of some other sort of less nippy dithers might work? Ive heard of Congo tettas going well with both the archer and knifefish species? Im just worried with a school id have too many fish?

Typed this in a hurry, ill talk more when i get back

 

[thereverendturtle]

How about praecox rainbows? They stay small, but are deep bodied. Not nippers and to big to be eaten.

 

[roddy]

Praecox rainbows would look good but not sure I would trust the archers with them once they got bigger, my T microlepis have easily made 6" quickly and are bold feeders happy to pack away sizable items. One of the other rainbows would work or how about one of the milder barbs such as Lined? Cheap enough to put a shoal together and still give the Knifefish a fighting chance at feeding time.

 

[Shovelman]

Praecox rainbows would look good but not sure I would trust the archers with them once they got bigger, my T microlepis have easily made 6" quickly and are bold feeders happy to pack away sizable items. One of the other rainbows would work or how about one of the milder barbs such as Lined? Cheap enough to put a shoal together and still give the Knifefish a fighting chance at feeding time.

So say a group of bosemanis rainbows? I think that would be nice...they would add a splash of color to the tank id think.

And sorry to sound self conceided by not giving my knife a chance, i just had one of those bursts of "I have a 65 gallon tank that i can have fish ive never had before in them, gotta catch em all" fish bursts....one day...one day when i have my own house my fish tanks will rival those of the shedd aquarium.... lol

 

[thereverendturtle]

That's what I hope, wife says I might get to build a fish house in the back if we buy a house. I'm ok with that but really wanted to have most of them in the house.

 

[Shovelman]

That's what I hope, wife says I might get to build a fish house in the back if we buy a house. I'm ok with that but really wanted to have most of them in the house.

lol it would be awesome if you could connect the fish house to your house via kinda like a sky deck walkthrough...if you know what im trying to describe lol


So for the bosemanis, 2 males and 4 females?