The Truth about Tiger Barbs and why you should NOT buy aquarium or farm grown.

[WhistlingBadger]

If you ever want a peaceful alternative to tiger barbs, try pentazona barbs. They are just as striking (their colors are even prettier, in my opinion) but very gentle, even a bit shy.

 

[Stan510]

I have a few Snakeskin barbs,they only pull together when I make a water change,shut off the power. Any other time,they chase each other..but no damage at all..not a bit of fin shred and I never see them chase any other type of fish in the 240 gallon.
I tell you- I have truly been tempted by glo Tiger Barbs because unlike the Skirt tetras,the glo Barb passes as a very colorful natural fish. But $8 each and I have no idea if they are more or less the same angry as plain Tiger Barbs.
Anybody try the glo barbs?

 

[madmark285]

I think their demeanor was why Co-Op stopped keeping them by the hundreds in a 800 gallon tank.

The 800 gallon tank was moved to Cory's house. Most likely, they sold the tiger barbs, after all they are an aquarium store which sells fish.

I got 10 Tiger Barbs, no problems. They are quite tame compared to the Odessa Barbs in my tank.

 

[Stan510]

You did watch the vid? The specialist and i agree.

 

[madmark285]

You did watch the vid? The specialist and i agree.

I did watch the video. With the massive overload of info these day, you really need to look at multiple sources to find a consensus. And the consensus does not support your views on Tiger Barbs being killers.

You are also speculating to support your position ie: Cory's 800 gallon tank at Aquarium Co-Op. WTF, he made a video of them moving the tank to his house. Now what would a aquarium store do with 800 Tiger Barbs?

I agree with the consensus, Tiger Barbs are not a true community fish and should be keep in groups of 5 or more to reduce aggression.

 

[Stan510]

"The Consensus" is you are wrong." So the barb expert- whos traveled and kept even species Tiger barb..is just talking out of his hat? You are sure that 5 or more make them peaceful?
When you are down to one fat barb,you will get it.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Guys, I think everybody's made their point, here. It isn't at all unreasonable to think that different people have different experience with the same species, especially one that has been domesticated and artificially bred as much as the TB. Unless there's new information to share, you're just restating the same things and yelling at each other. Maybe we should agree to disagree and wrap it up.

 

[Stan510]

Then this...

 

[Mcostas]

Oh. I've just bought 5 tiger barbs for my community tank. I did have only 3 but one kept bullying the others so off I went to buy 2 more...
They leave my neons alone, but they do seem to 'wrestle' with each other. And my goodness, they eat.

I had a 10 gallon with barbs and cardinals, I forget the exact number, I think 4 or 5 barbs and 6 cardinals. It was a planted tank.

They got along fine but I had well water at the time and struggled with that, also people didn't test parameters as much as now, I focused on pH and hardness.

The tank was in my bedroom and I could see the shadows of the barbs "mock fighting" or whatever they were doing.

I worked long hours of shift work and after fussing for a few years I was remiss with maintenance and everyone died.

But I'm back, on city water, armed with my api kit! I have a 10 gallon with Betta and neons and I'm setting up a 20long. I was thinking neons and shrimp but a tankful of barbs would be near too.

Barbs and Cori's?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I had a 10 gallon with barbs and cardinals, I forget the exact number, I think 4 or 5 barbs and 6 cardinals. It was a planted tank.

They got along fine but I had well water at the time and struggled with that, also people didn't test parameters as much as now, I focused on pH and hardness.

The tank was in my bedroom and I could see the shadows of the barbs "mock fighting" or whatever they were doing.

I worked long hours of shift work and after fussing for a few years I was remiss with maintenance and everyone died.

But I'm back, on city water, armed with my api kit! I have a 10 gallon with Betta and neons and I'm setting up a 20long. I was thinking neons and shrimp but a tankful of barbs would be near too.

Barbs and Cori's?

Hey, let's not open this brawl of a thread again. I should have locked it up a long time ago. I recommend you start a new thread about your new tank--we'd love to hear all about it and help you out. Thanks. T