I'm new..

[new_fish_guy86]

Hey, my name is Bryan and i am just starting out in having fish as pets and I wanted to know what would be a good tropical fish to start off with. I was thinking about tiger barbs. Could someone help? Thx.

 

[Alex]

Hiya newfishguy, you will probably need to put a bit more info. Size of the tank you are thinking of getting etc. Tiger barbs are lovely pretty fish, but you have to be careful what you put in with them as they are quite nippy. I'm sure you'll enjoy the forum as they are very helpful and friendly

 

[new_fish_guy86]

I'm only 16 so I will probably just get a 5 gallon tank for my room.

 

[alhcrv]

Bryan, as Alex said Tiger barbs can be nippy, and very aggresive to other breeds. They are not a community tank fish. However a way round it ,as your tank is only going to be small (you said 5 gallons), would be just to keep Tiger barbs in a shoal on their own. They would compete wih themselves, which is what they do in the wild anyway.
You will need to work out how many you can have by the dimensions of the tank, using length and width. Depth does not come into the calculation. Most books about getting started will guide you, and your local fishkeeping dealer will help as well. A bit of advice though, do not use a superstore for advice, go to a specialist dealer, because you will find that he keeps fish at home as well. Most do
keep us all posted how you go on.

Alan

 

[new_fish_guy86]

Thx Alan for the info. I was thinking of getting 3 Tirger B. and 2 Black tetras. And i read on a website that Tiger barbs could eat little pieces of cucumber. What do you think would be a good fish to have with tiger barbs?

 

[BIANCA]

I would not keep tiger barbs in a 5 gallon. They usually need to be in larger groups because the males can be very agressive when they go to mate and often times they will single out other males and harass them to death, and when they are in small groups they are also very nippy towards other fish.
With 5 gallons you are very limited as to what you can have. I would suggest if at all possible, you consider an Eclipse 12 system (12 gallons). It will give you a lot more options fish wise and it comes complete with everything you need for under 100 bills.

 

[alhcrv]

Or get 1 male and a bucketful of females in the 5 gallon. That way it would keep the cost down.
I wouldn't use a 5 gallon personally but it depends on your financial and space requirements.

Alan

 

[new_fish_guy86]

Well i was going to get a 5 gallon because it would be small enough for my room but i could get a 10 gallon tank. I saw one at the store for only $9. But if i did just get a 5 instead of tiger barbs i could get some Black tetras and i saw some young goldfish for only 28 cents each.

 

[fish503]

the gold fish are feeder goldfish i would get the bigest tank you could buy that way you could get a lot more fish

 

[new_fish_guy86]

I am going to move soon so i don't want to get a big tank right away so to hold me over i am going to get a double hex tank and 2 bettas.

 

[FOGGY]

I HAVE A COMMUNITY TANK AND 2 TIGER BARBS, AND 2 RED TIGER BARBS QUITE LARGE AND THEY MIX VERY, VERY WELL WITH ALL THE FISH, I DO HAVE A LOT OF PLANTS THOUGH BUT HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM AGRESSIVE.

 

[tdnp]

I say NO there is alot better behaved fish with better colouring than tigers