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I'm getting tons of conflicting information on cherry barbs. Their profile here says they don't like other cherry barbs. I'm inclined to disbelieve that. There are some at the place I work at and they may not school closely like the tetras, but they don't seem to antagonize each other.

Others here have said that you can keep them in trios of two females and a male. This would be ideal for adding to one of my tanks without overstocking. But I don't want them to be unhappy if...

They may like to be in larger groups. I read an article recently in a back issue of TFH (from the current editor of said publication) that implied that cherry barbs like to be in large groups in a large tank, except for breeding, when a conditioned pair could go into a smaller tank. I think this author (who has kept and bred many cherry barbs over the years) is the most reliable source of information on the subject.

I was wondering what everyone's experiences here were, so I can make an informed decision about them. Thanks in advance!

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I've always kept them in single pairs in a 10g. Very nice fish with good coloring. IME they tend to be a bit on the shy side. Occasionally my female will chase the male but there's never been any damage and for the most part they stay together.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

check this link out
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1008&TopCatId=880
i have 4 tiger barbs n im getting more but there supposed to be in a school usually so i wouldnt see why cherry barbs couldnt be the same. there both barbs after all.

They're both barbs but not all barbs have the same personalities. Tigers are schoolers and can be nippers; I have belted barbs which are schoolers as well but are quite peaceful and not nippy at all. Schools aren't necessary for cherries and in general they tend to be on the timid-side.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I have 4 cherry barbs - mine don't school in the way that say neons do, sometimes they hang around together, sometimes not - they have been very hardy for me (used them to cycle) and I've never seen any agression.

It is ok to get more than a pair and getting 6-8 will ensure that you will be able to see the fantastic mating behavior and strutting which with only a pair of fish will not be displayed since there will only be one female and no other males to contest against. I have not had any personal experience with them but this is what another person told me when I had asked the same question on a different forum.

The cherry barbs I had would usually hang out in pairs, and never antagonized other fish or each other. They would occasionally all get together, but for the most part it was one male and one female.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."