Order of adding fish

[drunkenmonkey]

My 32gal tank is coming very close to ending its fishless cycle. I plan on adding about 5 zebra danios at the start. The other two types of fish i would like to add are tiger barbs and otos(was rtb shark previously, but changed my mind ). After I add the zebra danios, should i add the otos then the tiger barbs?? I've heard that if tiger barbs go in tanks first than they will claim most of the swimming space as their territory, and will nip "intruders". 5 zebra danios, 8 tiger barbs, and 3 otos should do fine right?? or should i add a few more otos?? thanks!

Drunkenmonkey

 

[kgrehm]

Usually that is true about the tiger barbs. I never had them and probably never will. IMO they totally limit the amount of fish you can have because of aggrestion and because you need at least 6 to have a good school. I think you should add the ottos first and then the barbs. Although I wouldnt doubt that the barbs will at first pick on the danios and maybe also the ottos

 

[Sky042]

If you're completeing a fishless cycle(as long as it was done with a healthy amount of ammonia i.e. 5ppm) then you can technically effectively fully stock a tank from day one as long as you've gotten the nitrate issue taken care of. So they'll just sorta figure out their own spaces.

 

[Weirdfish]

Just to backup what sky042 said, I added all my stock except the phantoms over one weekend. That was 2 weeks ago and everything went well.

 

[heyimeugene]

I'm getting my 30 gallon tomorrow.... transferring my 10 gal to the 30.. I think I'll do a water change everyday until I can fill the 10gal water in the 30 gal and add me 2 danios when its deep enough for the filter to pick it up... anyways.. good topic to read up on!

 

[Doggfather]

just add the most aggresive fish last

 

[tmlhaus]

Keep a close eye on things with those tiger barbs . They are mean and very nippy...

 

[drunkenmonkey]

If you're completeing a fishless cycle(as long as it was done with a healthy amount of ammonia i.e. 5ppm) then you can technically effectively fully stock a tank from day one as long as you've gotten the nitrate issue taken care of. So they'll just sorta figure out their own spaces.

thanks sky! I'll try that and hopefully everything will work out. planning on getting them this friday/saturday

Drunkenmonkey

 

[Goblin]

My buddy gave me his 55 gal and am planning to add about 20 small baby tiger barbs.

He usually has tigers with ciclids which are even more agressive.

He said the trick is to get the fish as small as possible, get tiny ciclids and tiny barbs.

He says the school of barbs will distract the ciclids enough so they won't kill each other. Once they all get established its a nice hostile community tank.

He said that if you introduce larger older ciclids then all bets are off.

He had all kinds of fish that are not suppose to live together (at least in the books) doing just fine. Sure there were fights but each fish had his own little area.

Lots of rock caves is important so each fish can have his own little turf.

I have read it can't be done but I have seen his tanks and he has done it.

He wants be to dump about 500.00 into the fish and plant them all at once. Sort of the shot gun approach. All will be very small versions, no adults.

I could be in for some expensive fish warfair.