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I may be getting a 48 gallon (US) tank soon. My aunt and uncle have one that they will give me for free...if I can talk my parents into letting me have another one. I already have a 55g peaceful community started. I won't be getting or setting up the 48 for awhile..gotta save some money first. I am just planning ahead. I like tiger barbs, but not the fact that they're nippy. I have head and tailight tetras, rummynoses, yoyo loaches, BN, otto, and cories in my 55g. I want different fish for the 48.
If I got tiger barbs for the 48g, could I also have tetras? Any suggestions for a centerpiece fish?

*Kristin*

I have tiger barbs, they only are nippy with other fish when their numbers are too low. My five are very focused on each other and leave the other fish alone. I think the larger tetras and rasboras would be fine with tiger barbs. I keep 1 krib with my tigers and they get along fine (sometimes she schools with them, it's funny to watch). They seem to be a great foil for so many fish. I'm sure there are tetra keepers who could recommend some. Keep a school of at least 6 barbs, more would be better, and have large schools of tetras and they should all be fine. A tank with tigers in it will not be 'peaceful', it will be energetic and fun to watch. Good luck, hope you're allowed to have the tank!
P.S. Check out the cyprinid corner, the thread titled Tiger Barbs after irridescent sharks, I_Spaz_Out gives more detail as to the proper ratio for tiger barbs to space.

Last edited by luvmykrib at 25-Nov-2005 20:14

Last edited by luvmykrib at 25-Nov-2005 20:52

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Thanks. I've always wanted them, I was just afraid of their nippy behavior. I want angels for my 55g so I couldn't get the barbs. You think it would be ok to have some of the nippier tetras with the barbs? Like serpaes.
I will definitely get about 10 tiger barbs. I think that would be awesome.
What about keyhole cichlids or rams for centerpieces? Would that work?

*Kristin*

I really like the look of the bolivian rams, I have only kept one cichlid, my krib, and so don't have any experience with the others. All cichlids are territorial though so I would keep only one. I tried three kribs at one time and they didn't make it. Definitely the barbs in a school of 10 would be so focused on each other they would leave the tetras and cichlid alone. Mine ignore Gorgeous when she's 'schooling' with them. And the larger fast swimming tetras can hold their own.
You should check to see which ones share the same water conditions and match them up that way, although the barbs are highly adaptable.
I have been playing with the logbooks on this site, in the inventory section, add in the fish you want and it will tell you what the tank conditions will be. If you check compatibility it will warn you about peaceful fish with aggressive fish. Just keep the schools full and there should be no problems. Also check the cichlid, characins(tetras) and cyprinids(barbs) threads to see what others have to say about their fishes personalities.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus