36 Gallon Bowfront Stocking

[mislisa]

Hi all! I am looking at stocking my new 36g bowfront and would like your opinions.

I currently have a stock of 1 bristlenose pleco and 5 pristella tetras. I'm looking at possibly adding a group of tiger barbs, but am hesitant as i know they can be bullies. If I was to go this route, how many should I add and what other fish might be compatible? I will probably add some corys for bottom feeders as well.

 

[Byron]

I would forget Tiger Barbs. The minimum tank for a group is 30 gallons and that allows a group of 10-12 which is about minikmum to curtail (hopefully) the aggressive nipping tendency in this species. In other words, if you had nothing but a group of TB in your 36g bowfront, that would be OK.

It would help to know the water parameters of the source water (GH, pH) before suggesting fish. But you should increase the Pristella Tetra first, another 3-5. Shoaling species always do better, and provide more interesting behaviours, with more of them.

Coming back to barbs, a species that is very peaceful (for barbs anyway) and does bear a similar patterning to TB is the Black Ruby Barb. A group of 8-9 would be good if you like this species.
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/pethia-nigrofasciata/