Red Recommendations?

[dazbud]

Hi all,

My tank is 4 months established now. Stats 100 litre, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, about 10ppm Nitrate, weekly 25% water change.

It doesn't look very full, but I'm advised I'm nearing capacity. with the following stock

8 x neon tetra
2 x dwarf gourami (blue)
2 x platy (blue)
1 x honey gourami
2 x baloon molly
4 x tiger barb

I'd really like to finish it off with a few red fish, preferably like a crimson red.

Can anyone recommend any suitable fish ?

The obvious choice was a few red wag platy, but I wondered if there was anyhthing a bit more showy ?

 

[CezzaXV]

I'm assuming your two blue dwarfs are females. Have you considered adding a male? They're usually orange rather than red but they're very attractive fish.

 

[Flubberlump]

+1 they're stunning!

Your tank is lovely by the way!

 

[dazbud]

I believe the DG are male, as the females are plain. So didn't want to add another male incase it caused squabbles

 

[lloyd]

I would revise your stocking before adding more fish. your tank isnt really big enough for a roup of tiger barbs and keeping tiger barbs in groups of 4 is askinffor trouble as with such small numbers they will probably end up bullying each other or other fish.

your tank looks nice

 

[soybean]

I would second the tiger barb issue, they really are at their best in far larger numbers, you may not have squabbles now but you might if you add something new to the tank.

My friend has just got some beautiful red swordtails, if you rehomed the tiger barbs you'd probably have room for a couple of those maybe.

 

[soybean]

Ps. You have a lovely tank!

 

[lloyd]

Some red platys?

 

[crago1990]

Cherry barbs? the males are a lovely red colour

 

[This Old Spouse]

Very nice tank, but I'm in agreement about the tiger barbs. I started with 6, then upped the number to 14 and they're much happier. They don't do well in small numbers or in a small tank.

 

[lloyd]

i was gonna suggest cherry barbs but they like cooler water

 

[dazbud]

I gotta say guys, the tiger barbs leave all my other fish alone. They chase each other now and then but not continuously . They've been in the tank for about 2 weeks now and were the last thing to be added.

They are about 2 inches long now. Will their behaviour change as they get older?

 

[lloyd]

Yes they will definatly chane in behavoir as they get older but that isnt to say you have time to wait till there older.

tiger barbs can be a real problem. they have a very complex pecking order system. to little fish will lead to nipping other fish and serious fights amongst each other. a big shoal works well as themore tigers in the tank means the subdominant fish get picked on less and agression is greatly reduced. also keeping them in a small tank can be enough to spark attacks on tank mates and each other

Edit: also it isnt fair to keep a shoaling fish in small numberss. for example you wouldnt keep a neon tetra in a group of 4

 

[OldMan47]

How about a nice female kribensis? They are about the size of your DGs but have that intense ruby red belly on them.

 

[dazbud]

just looked up the Ruby Kribensis. Its really nice, but a Cichlid right ? Is it possible to keep a single cichlid in a community tank ?