Is This Normal?

[soccermatt]

Hi,

I completely finished cycling my 15 gallon tank, and the other day bought 3 tiger barbs. Next weekend i will be going out to get another 2. I properly acclimated them and all water parameters are perfect.

I have been watching them a lot and I've noticed some things. First of all there seem to be 2 females and 1 male, but could be the other way. The male seems to be the most dominate and outgoing as he swims around in the open, and loves to chase the other two around. One of the females, seems to like 1 part of the tank, and is fairly active. The last Female is much less active (except when being chased). The hole things seems to be getting better (slowly) as the get adjusted i think but i have a couple questions.

1. Is this normal.
2. I am thinking that when i add another 2 of them it will help a lot, i am right.
3. Would i be better to stick at 5 tiger barbs or go to 7 (i heard the do better in odd), but i would still like to add maybe some livebearers latter on.

Thanks

 

[waterdrop]

Yup, adding more tiger barbs will help them do better.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Assaye]

7 is a good number for tiger barbs but having such active shoaling fish in the tank does limit your other fish choices a little.

Also, beware of fish with fancy tails (guppies, bettas, etc) as the tiger barbs are very nippy fish.

How did you cycle your tank, out of interest?

 

[soccermatt]

I cycled my tank using fish food since i wasn't able to find pure ammonia anywhere. Would 7 Tiger barbs and 3 platies fit in a 15 gallon aquarium?

 

[OldMan47]

That will require a shoehorn Soccermatt. Tiger barbs are fairly small at the pet shop but they get to well over 2 inches long each as adults.

 

[soccermatt]

i have a quick question. I heard that my LFS which is actually is very good is getting wild caught tiger barbs in this week so i will be going Saturday to get two more. Would wild ones be alright with captive breed ones?

 

[waterdrop]

I would think they would be fine, might live'n them up