Tiger Barbs And Otocinclus

[CallMeJoe]

I have been thinking of getting some tiger barbs to go in my lightly planted 55 gal, currently holding just 2 medium clown loaches (3 1/2 - 4") and 6 otos. Tim's Tropicals compatibility listings say otos and tiger barbs don't get along, though they list many other fish that can live with both. Does anyone here have any experience with this combination, or knowledge of why they won't work out? Are the tiger barbs really that aggressive towards the otos?
FWIW, I would also like to have cherry barbs, a red-tail shark and three-spot gouramis in this tank when fully stocked.

 

[Lynden]

Red tailed sharks may sound appealing, but they wont when they get 6'' and start to conquer your tank. As for the tiger barbs and the otos, i have them together, and i have never had a problem.

 

[CallMeJoe]

The red tail is a definite maybe, included mostly because my wife really likes them (I do think they're OK, but not my favorite). Thanks for the tiger input.

 

[CatLover]

Tiger barbs should go good with otos. However, barbs and gouramis usually don't get along well, and I'm not so sure how a RTBS will fair with gouramis or barbs. Both the shark and the barbs are pretty aggressive, and gouramis might get terrorized in a tank like that.

I think if you just went with your clown loaches, barbs, RTBS, and otos, that's a good combo of fish. I really don't think you should get the gouramis.
If you do get a RTBS, make sure to only get one - they will fight and kill any other shark in the tank, or any other fish that even resembles them. Oh, and since your wife wants one, be sure to tell her to not complain if a fish is accidently injured or killed because of the shark. They might seem ok when they're small, but like Chestnut said, they are a totally different fish when they get bigger.