Can I Put Green Tiger Barbs In My Tank?

[tammygoodsell]

I had green tiger barbs when I first had this tank (it was an ex partners and he had it already set up) and before I knew anything about them. I started with 6 and they were very placid, even when they were older and they started dying off. Even when I only had 2 they were really peaceful fish, never bothering their tank mates. I have a 180l tank that has quite a bit of live planting in it but lots of open space too. I currently have 2 flying foxes, 2 silver sharks, 3 rummy nose tetras, 1 neon tetra, 4 black widow tetras, 1 platy and 2 red honey dwarf gouramis in the tank. I have read that barbs will nip the fins of larger, slower moving fish. If I were to get any green tiger barbs I would get a group of 6. From my research the only fish I have that I think may be a problem is the gouramis but they don't have very long or floaty fins. Thought that maybe I could get some advice from more experienced tropical fish keepers.

 

[agk2000]

Personally I'd stay away from the tiger barbs, cause I've seen some pretty ragged fins from just 2 gouramis going after eachother, now times that by 6...

 

[dbanner]

I know tiger barbs have a name as fin nippers but I don't think they deserve that 'name'.. Don't get me wrong they can be nippers and so can other barbs but iv kept more than one group of tiger barbs in the past and all have been fine and never bothered tank mates. As long as they are kept in big groups they are fine. Say a minimum of 6 but around 10+ being a lot better.

Iv also kept in the past... torpedo barbs (roseline sharks, denison barbs), normal tigers, odessa barbs, tinfoil and rosy and have never come across a problem with any of them.

 

[MrGT500]

i agree that they dont desearve that name, i have 4 in my 27 cube with a big angel and they dont bother him any. i like them.

 

[dbanner]

I normally say to people thinking about keeping them that they are nippers but this is only usually due to people only wanting to keep 1 or 2 so not as big group as they should be in or if the tank they are going in is too small as most people don't realise how chunky tigers get. In those sort of situations tigers more than likely will nip the fins of other fish but if kept in the required group and a tank big enough iv found there is usually next to no aggression

 

[tammygoodsell]

Thanks for your advice everyone, its appreciated x

 

[Tizer]

I wonder why my 18 Tiger Barbs destroyed the Dorsal fins of all my Corys then...They will always be aggressive little nippers in my book Great fish though. :>

 

[dbanner]

Lol some will be... Some won't. But they are more likely to be better in sufficient groups in a decent size tank to what they would be if you were to keep say 3 in a 100L tank

 

[Dazzler666]

Tammy, have a look at anither post in this section 'what will go with tiger barbs' as lots of comments about them which may assist in your plight!!
Can be aggressive but really is just luck of the draw on the actual fish you get as they all have their own personalities & keepers of them have different experiences. Mind you, they are great fish & sooooooo entertaining!!!