Too Many Males!

[m1lky12]

Earlier today I brought home 6 Ruby Barbs with the intention of getting 2 males and 4 females, both me and the worker spent about 10 minutes looking at the fish to try get the right ratio. Brought them home put them in the tank and now a few hours later now they've settled and shown there colours it's clear I now have 4 males and 2 females!

So what do I do? I know the males can get aggressive towards one another but at the moment they seem alright. Should I see how it goes or just send two of the males straight back and exchange them? Or even go get a couple more that are obviously females and make the ratio 4:4?

The tanks a 100 liter UFO 550 corner tank with a couple of Syodontis Catfish and 4, soon to be 6 Zebra loaches so I'm wary of overstocking.

 

[Blitz]

Just incase they become agressive towards each other, take them back just in case.. ?

 

[m1lky12]

Just an update I'm unsure of one of the males, think it may be a female so the ratios 3:3. Just fed them and the 3 definite males flared up a brilliant red/black colour whereas the fish in question stayed a dull yellow with a touch of red and faint black stripes. Think I still may get another female just to tip the ratio.

 

[creeker]

Just an update I'm unsure of one of the males, think it may be a female so the ratios 3:3. Just fed them and the 3 definite males flared up a brilliant red/black colour whereas the fish in question stayed a dull yellow with a touch of red and faint black stripes. Think I still may get another female just to tip the ratio.

That's what I would do. Get another for sure female.

EDIT: Just noticed your tank size and model. You might be a bit overstocked with 7 barbs, 6 loaches, and 2 Synos. Just be sure to keep up on the weekly water changes.

 

[m1lky12]

That's what I would do. Get another for sure female.

EDIT: Just noticed your tank size and model. You might be a bit overstocked with 7 barbs, 6 loaches, and 2 Synos. Just be sure to keep up on the weekly water changes.

Yeah I know the synos shouldn't really be housed in the tank, unfortunatly I brought them a number of years ago when I didn't know any better, they were kept in a 50 liter up to a couple of weeks ago so the upgrade is actually a step up! Much more research has gone into this tank and the fish going in so won't make those mistakes again.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

That's what I would do. Get another for sure female.

EDIT: Just noticed your tank size and model. You might be a bit overstocked with 7 barbs, 6 loaches, and 2 Synos. Just be sure to keep up on the weekly water changes.

Yeah I know the synos shouldn't really be housed in the tank, unfortunatly I brought them a number of years ago when I didn't know any better, they were kept in a 50 liter up to a couple of weeks ago so the upgrade is actually a step up! Much more research has gone into this tank and the fish going in so won't make those mistakes again.

I am going to come across as very harsh but re-read what you wrote and then tally up the adult sizes of the fish you have in this tank already, you are massively overstocked.

6x Zebra Loaches (60cm of adult fish, need a 4-footer)
2x Syno (Featherfins perhaps which should reach large girth ~20cm size? Even a 5-foot might not suit two, which leaves things open for aggression where one always suffers)
6x Ruby Barbs (36cm of adult fish)

Already you need a large volume 4-footer and even that may not be suitable for all long term. You say you have researched so as not to make mistakes this time, but your actions disagree with you my fish keeping friend.

 

[m1lky12]

I am going to come across as very harsh but re-read what you wrote and then tally up the adult sizes of the fish you have in this tank already, you are massively overstocked.

6x Zebra Loaches (60cm of adult fish, need a 4-footer)
2x Syno (Featherfins perhaps which should reach large girth ~20cm size? Even a 5-foot might not suit two, which leaves things open for aggression where one always suffers)
6x Ruby Barbs (36cm of adult fish)

Already you need a large volume 4-footer and even that may not be suitable for all long term. You say you have researched so as not to make mistakes this time, but your actions disagree with you my fish keeping friend.

I do appreciate you comments from someone much more experienced at keeping fish than myself, you've helped me and advised me on a few other of my questions. Unfortunately I'm paying for the fish I brought when I didn't know any better in terms of stocking, in particular the synos. However I think saying I haven't done my research is a little off, in fact it's what brought me too this forum! I know synos shouldn't be in this sized tank but I'm trying to make the best of the situation by giving them an environment which, for the time being, they can be relatively happy in (they're not full size yet!) Stocking more loaches also had to be done to keep my existing one happy. I personally feel that the centimeter to liter theory is a good base but isn't the be all and end all of stocking, water change percentage and how often it does can help, also swimming levels and tank layout can affect it, though I do agree that the majority of my stock are bottom dwelling fish so perhaps a little over stocked in that respect but the layout of the tank means there's space for them, so having the middle/top dwellers in terms of the barb shouldn't affect them too much.

I do understand where you coming from, the synos are the main problem and believe it or not your comment actually led me to having a quick look around for bigger tanks, something which I'm seriously considering after finding a fair few around double the size for half what I paid for my 100l!