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I've a 48"x24"x13" LxWxH 55 gallon tank.

Stocking as of now is:
6 Tiger Barbs
4 Serpae Tetras
2 Ottos
and a handful of Ramshorn snails

We used to have a full grown RTBS but she's past on along with 5 serpae tetras. Whatever type of disease we had is finally gone. I'm thinking of getting another RTBS, but I'd like some suggestions with other things I may be able to stock with. Mother would like a large centerpiece fish. She loves the Oscars but there is no way I'm getting one with as much attention/space they require.

Using the inches rule, with what I have right now I've about 25-27" of space for some type of fish.

I'm NOT increasing the Tiger Barb school, they were absolute terrors when I had them in a school of 9, they just ganged up and picked on everyone else, right now they only pick on themselves.

This is a moderatly planted tank with plenty of caves and hiding places. So... any suggestions?

you couldn't put a oscar in with thoes fish anyways the oscar would eat them. get 4 more sharpes 2 more ottos the red tail black shark didn't try to kill the other fish that is suprising. you could get 1 dwarf gourami they are cool you could get 1 raphel catfish. my raphel catfish is in with some mid size tetras and he has shown no intrist in eating them.

I would add a couple more ottos like riri said. But, I'd have to have some corries in the tank as well...Corries have become a terrible obsession of mine, a tank without a school of them, just isn't a tank, unless said tank is only a 1 gallon with a betta in it

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Id up the school sizes for the tetras- theyll appreciate the company and do better.

So, A larger centerpeice fish.
Heres some ideas:
Firemouth Cichlid
Gold/Green Severum
Festivum Cichlid
Discus
Parrot Fish
Denisoni Barbs
Rainbowfish of Some type
I would also up the ottos to 6
and the serpaes to 6


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You seem to have a concentration of fish that swim in the middle of the tank. A small school of yo-yo loaches (maybe 3-4) could add interest to the bottom. They are very entertaining! And a gourami or golden wonder killifish would add color at the top of the tank.

Not a newbie, obviously I'm going to replace the serpaes I've lost

I've tried Gouramis before, but ya'll should know that Tiger Barbs don't mix well with them.

So_Very_Sneaky, I love some of those ideas ^_^ but I probably should mention I've sand for substrate and it's white. Just about all of those have white bodies (and I'm not a fan of the parrot cichlids). Was also under the impression Discus wouldn't work too well with the barbs.


Last edited by Sandy02 at 10-Sep-2005 20:34

with tiger barbs, it limits ur stocking, thats why i dont carry them. so a centerpiece, what would look nice would be a school of 4-5 dension barbs(however if u can find some they will be expensive.)

if u have a large tank for later, then a very odd " and rare" center fish could be a short nosed clown tetra( but they will need a very large tank)

an elegant fish that may be ok, is a keyhole cichlid, or port acara.

my krib got well with my tiger barbs...

at first they got curious... but now when the krib come strollin' by, they know to get outta the way... keeps the barbs in line.

I also think that cories would be a good addition to the tank. What about a pair of keyhole cichlids aswell though? They dont get too large, and overly aggressive or peaceful. Could be worth a shot in my opinion.

Good luck what ever you decide.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

keyholes are a really nice looking fish, but from my experience with them, they get stressed out easily and like lindy said, they don't get overly agressive, which could be good OR bad with the tiger barbs.

tiger barbs need something agressive enough to keep them at bay, so that they don't get picked on too much and ultimately killed.

if you like them tho, i'd definately give them a try, because keyholes are an awesome fish.

based on personal experience and online research I would advise against pairing tiger barbs with keyhole cichlids. The keyholes generally don't appreciate rowdy tankmates.

Maybe try some rainbowfish as So_Very_Sneaky suggested. I love the dwarf neon rainbowfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/praecoxrainbow.xml[/link]. Or you could try the [link=crimson spot rainbowfish. I think the colors and horozontal stripe would look great with the tigers and serpaes.