Black Sharks And Tiger Barbs?

[methodmza_uk]

Hi All,

Would Tiger Barbs and Red tailed black sharks get one well?
I know they r both fairly agressive, but what are the odds of them living quite peacefully in the same tank.
It doesnt matter about tank sizes for now, just wondered about these 2 fish.

Thanks guys

 

[sylvia]

Tank size certainly DOES matter. Also, I notice you're saying red tail black sharks - plural. Never keep more than one RTBS per tank. Once mature, one will kill the other and probably be injured itself in the process. Tiger barbs are ok with RTBS if they are kept in a large enough school (7 or more of the barbs) and in a large enough, well-decorated, tank (prefferably more than 30 gallons). They also must be added at the same time as the RTBS so it's essential to fishless cycle. That way everything can be added at once without water quality issues developing. Read the links in my signature about cycling, new tank syndrome and fishless cycling if you are not sure about all this. A search of the beginners forum would also turn up several relevant threads.

edit: Wanted to add that black sharks are different to red tailed black sharks so watch you don't confuse someone and end up with the wrong fish. Black sharks grow HUGE.

 

[methodmza_uk]

Thats great, just what I was after. They r definatly red tailed black sharks I am after.
Ok so only 1 RTBS in a tank, cool.
Does it have to be 7 or more of the barbs?

Thanks again

 

[sylvia]

Yes, absolutely. If you keep fewer, they'll nip each other, their tankmates and, moreover, tempt the shark to attack them.

How big is your tank? Please make sure it's at least 30 gallons. If it isn't, the shark may end up killing barbs, reducing their numbers, so they'll nip back and it'll attack more until all your fish are stressed and the result may well be a tank full of several sick fish and some dead ones.

 

[methodmza_uk]

Hehe ok.
Not got a tank yet. I was interested and thought i should ask you lot first.
30galls or more. No probs.
I saw both fish and they looked cool in the shop.

What sort of fish are ideal for my first fish? I believe i need hardy fish.
Thanks

 

[Katchan]

Well tiger barbs and red tails qualify under hardy, as for other fish if you went for say a 40 gallon (my prefered smaller-medium community tank) you could add some corydorus catfish bronze or peppers for example being fairly hardy. Maybe add a bristlenose catfish or two (common pleco would end up way to big for that size tank) and maybe add a hardy tetra as well, just my 2cents

Andrew

 

[methodmza_uk]

Spot on cheers
Will look into those fish and find myself a nice tank too!!

 

[sylvia]

Do you have a tank set up already? (I mean a different one that already contains fish). I'd avoid cories if you're going to go for the tiger barbs/shark mix. A bristlenose plec would work perfectly though. Anyway, you can't start your tank using fish - do a FISHLESS cycle. Read the link in my signature about this. Then, if you have questions, feel free to ask.

 

[methodmza_uk]

Im gonna go and get my tank and that tonight after work and buy some ammonia to start my fishless cycle.
Loads of great info in your signature that I have read.
Can you buy the ammonia in a bottle stuff from fish shops?

Is it better to buy a few real plants during the fishless cycle?

Thanks again

 

[sylvia]

Unfortunately most LFSs won't have ammonia for sale but I see you are in the UK? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...4952&hl=ammonia Apparently you can get it at Homebase I was actualy looking for a thread entitled 'ammonia sources UK' or something like that I'd seen a while ago but I can't find it. Perhaps it's pinned now... Search the forum a little and you should find plenty more ammonia sources. You should be able to find ammonia at most chemist or hardware stores.

Plants use up nitrates so they are good once you have mostly cycled the tank but I wouldn't add any yet as excessive ammonia can damage plants despite the fact that they use it as well. However, you can still add some plants if you like - it's up to you realy. I'm not that great with plants myself so you shouldn't take plant advice from me

edit: A note on the ammonia - most of it is sold as a cleaning product. Make sure it only contains ammonia. If there is something in there to make it smell better or whatever, the chemicals could remain in the tank and kill any fish you try to add. Just look out for 'pure' ammonia rather than all that perfumed stuff.

 

[methodmza_uk]

Thats great. I think i have got my info now to start my tank up.
Cant wait to get it all.

Just another quick question, how many Tiger Barbs are ok on their own?
I know you said seven with a RTBS, but without the shark how many in say a 30gall tank?

 

[sylvia]

7 - they are schooling fish and need to be kept in schools regardless. If you plan to keep them with ANY other fish, they have to be in a group of 7 minnimum. You could, in theory, start off with a group of 4 or 5 but there's no point in doing this as, once you want to add other fish, you'll have to increase the number in the school anyway and adding more barbs later on is best avoided as the established barbs will bully the newcomers.

 

[ccg]

I had a 3foot, 35US gallon tank with 5 tiger barbs, 1RTBS, 3 cherry barbs, and 6 golden barbs.

I never had any problems with this setup although I did have to remove there albino cory's after adding the tiger barbs because they would no leave them alone. Neither the cherry or gold barbs are aggresive at all and were never botherd by the RTBS or the 5tiger barbs.

One thing that I have noticed is that most barbs seem to leave other barbs alone. I am sure this is not always the case, but over the years I have never really had any barbs show much aggresion towards each other.

Take sylvia's advice and get 7 if you can. I would not recommend getting any less then 5 as a bare minimum. Also, they are very active fish so the bigger the tank the better.

 

[cometcattle]

I currently have 8 Tiger barbs and a RTBS together in a 4ft tank. Occasionally the shark will take a "run" at the school, but nothing serious.

 

[fish_keeper2]

i have a 20 gal with 5 tiger barbs, 1 rainbow shark, 1 3-spot gourami, and even 1 yellow lab cichlid. so far i havent had any probs. i will be upgrading the tank soon and taking the yellow lab out and geting more tiger barbs. i personaly would get a rainbow shark over a RTBS. they are less aggressive but either way the same rules apply to them. the only aggression ive seen lately is the rainbow shark taking a dive at the tiger barbs........but no nipped or torn fins at all.