What Fish To Add Now?

[Cory1990]

Hello this is my first post here, I've tried other fish forums with 0 response from anyone so I'll try here now.
I have a 55 gallon tropical tank. with the fallowing fish
8. Mix fruit tetras
6.neon tetras
2.tigar barbs
3. Back tetras (not sure on the type sry)
3.blood fin tetras
1.silver shark
1.sucker fish

I want something else in there I'm just not sure what will get along with what I have, I've thought about guppies but someone told me my barbs will nip them.bso is there anything else I could add?

 

[Llegmore]

I would agree that guppies and barbs would not mix. Tiger barbs in particular are very nippy, especially as you only have 2 (I'd say keep them in groups of 4 minimum). In fact, it's difficult to recommend non-shoaling fish to go with the barbs. For example, peaceful fish like mollies or sometimes even platies would be threatened by them.

Perhaps corys? Or even a couple of dwarf gouramis - don't trust me on their compatibility with the other tank inhabitants there though.

Instead of getting a new species of fish, I'd suggest getting more tetras to make shoals as they like to be in groups of 6+ and also more barbs. Your black tetras are probably black widows or black phantoms.

I'm going to raise the issue of fruit tetras in case you're unaware of the process that gives them their colour. Fruit tetras are White Skirt tetras that have been dyed using the dipping-method where the fish is placed in a caustic solution that removes this mucus from the body. The fish is then dipped in dye, or injected using a needle. When the dying process is over, the fish is dipped in yet another solution. This solution consists of chemicals that are known to irritate the skin of fishes, since the irritation will stimulate the fish to produce a new slime coating. It's inhumane - especially as White Skirt tetras are beautiful naturally.

Sorry if you already knew all this and were just trying to give the poor things a good home. If not, then it's good to be aware as the process makes fish more vulnerable to disease and perhaps you should avoid purchasing anymore of them.

 

[Cory1990]

That is the worse thing I have ever heard! Poor fish! I Thought they were bread that way. I'll have to stop buying them to stop the support of that. I have 8 and out of them I've had to only keep one in my hospital tank (10 gallon basic set up I put sick looking fish) after a few weeks of being in there he was looking good enough to put back in my community tank. He now "teeters" but otherwise in good health.

Also about my barbs I only had two of them and they have not nipped any fish they do swim close to them all the time with no problems. A person at Petco told me I shouldn't have any others in there and that 2 was the max I should have. I feel like they know me pretty well there and one lady even refuses to sell me some fish they have there. Like these "glow tetras" not sure on how they are done like that but they are like a bright neon green. I was also thinking of adding more plattys but I'm sort of on the edge on them because I had one jump out of my tank before ;(

Also I was thinking of getting more of the blood fin tetras but am unsure as they have chased some of my neon tetras.

Also any temp I should keep this tank? I keep it heated to 80 but I had someone tell me today that hot will kill my fish. But a person at a pet store told me 80 for my fish. And I'm really confused about it.

I also think I forgot to add before that I also have 3 minnows in my tank, they were my "starter fish" and I've grown pretty fond of them. I'm surprised on how big they have grown eating " tetra color tropical crisps" I had them as pretty much fry size and now after setting up my 55 they are almost 1 1/4 huge minnows lol.

I'm sorry i really don't know a bunch of info on this fish stuff, all I can say is just a few months ago I got a small 1/2 gallon betta tank then 1 week after that I got a 10 gallon then 3 weeks after that I got my 55 gallon and I'm rapidly addicted to my fish. I have even rearranged my house so my couch faces my fish tank instead of my tv.

I've also been struggling to find a good tropical fish forum to LEARN, I tried a few and it seemed like no one wanted to even answer a simple question about a filter options for a 55gallon tank. So I'd like to say thank you for any comments you post on my thread and also thank you for the info on my tetras. I'm pretty much heart broke that they had to go threw that. ;(

 

[cjpf]

Welcome to this forum. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here, so take advantage of that. Honestly, I have to wonder why the person at Petco told you not to get more than two barbs. They are shoaling fish, and intact they should be kept in larger groups. Yes, they are know to be fin nippers, but if you don't keep any fish with very long fins, and have a school of at least 5 you should be fine. They won't bother anyone else. I know petco sells green tiger barbs and albino tiger barbs as well.. They are cool looking. In case you wanted to add some variety to the tank! the three types of barbs will shoal together! . I have 6 green tiger barbs, 7 albino and 5 normal in a 55 as well!
As for the guppies, they have long fins, and on top of everything they are a fairly slow fish, so with the barbs i wouldn't recommend getting them.

I keep my tank at 78, and all my fish seem to enjoy it!. 80 is a little on the warm side

 

[Cory1990]

Alright I just turned my heater down a little so I'll see if I can slowly lower it to 78. Also the Petco by my place is super low on fish right now so I'll have to wait until Tuesday before I head back there. I'll look into getting a few of the green tiger barbs as well if they stock them there. I was in there yesterday to look and there fish were really low.

 

[cjpf]

Yeah,definetly. The green tiger barbs are my favorite! I would look at getting about 3 to make a shoal of 5 at least. Also, try to get them of about the same size or somewhat smaller. I once brought home 3 albino that were significanlty larger than the rest of the barbs I already had and they terrorized my barbs, to the point where they were all hiding.

You can ask the person who places the fish orders at petco to order some green barbs for you, my local petco did that for me. Good luck!

 

[Dazzler666]

I agree with the barbs prettying as I gave 4 tiger & of recent 3 green. I also gave lemon & beacon tetras, harlequins rasboras, a single Molly & 2 BNP and touch wood, so far so good.
Definitely need more than two barbs I'm afraid otherwise they gave no way to vent their frustration hence start attacking/nipping other fish. A few of mine have had tail fins nipped at by each other!!!
The bigger the shoal of barbs the better.
Likewise, I'm going to be looking at adding another green & 4 albinos to my tank shortly ..... I love watching my barbs, great fish!!!