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I've read that they can benkept in pairs in small tanks, but i've also read that they can be terretorial. Would I be able to keep a pair, or even just one, in a 5 gal tank?

<Vet in Training>
Blog under development: http://www.nearlydrferox.blogging4life.com/

I've only kept pairs of cherries, but never found them to be territorial. My original pair were in a 3g QT. While I wouldn't recommend that, I think a 5g would be fine.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

A five gallon would be just fine. I've kept cherry barbs in groups before, and they just seemed to break off into male/female pairs, and only school together when frightened. A pair of cherry barbs would work out well, as I've never seen (or heard of) them being aggressive.

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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."

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't keep a fish in a five gallon tank. whils it can be done, I keep my betta in a ten gallon. You could maybe keep a shrimp but even then, a water change for a shrimp that you can't see real well and they like to jump. No, not worth it. I would get a bigger tank. Just ask yourself this and see what you think.
How are you going to keep a tiny tank warm?
What about lighting?
How are you going to do water changes?
Most fish like to have tank mates, what can go with your fish in a five gallon?
What about plants?
How are you going to add meds when your fish gets sick?
Lots to think about.

The tank has a heater, as I've kept a female betta in there for the past 6 or so months. Water changes are easy, every week, at least 25%. I don't use real plants in there as they don't work, and the light in the room seems to work fine for the fish. if i have 2 chery barbs then they each have company, and there is another tank i can move them to if it doesn't work out. I don't plan on them getting sick and needing meds, but if they do i have a tiny little syringe that i can use to accurately measure .1 of a ml.

I think i will get a pair if i can find them. i just wanted to make sure that they could handle the space.

<Vet in Training>
Blog under development: http://www.nearlydrferox.blogging4life.com/

two cherry barbs will live fine in a five gallon tank. i had two cherry barbs as a kid with a kuhli loach in a five gallon tank and the fish thrived and were happy as can be.

good luck

I'd like to know how long anyone has kept Cherry barbs in a five gallon?

Blondie, to address the questions you raised earlier:
There are heaters made specifically for small tanks.
Many five gallon tanks come with hoods that include lights, and outside lighting is sufficient, anyways.
Water changes are easy, and can be performed with a simple siphon.
"Most fish" liking tankmates is not true. That aside, cherry barbs are shy, and would do well in a tank with no other fish.
Plants are not necessary in any tank, though a five gallon is still enough to maintain them.
Adding meds is simple. Most meds give base their doses by ten gallons, just halve that for a five gallon.

Really, it wouldn't be a problem at all. My experiences with cherry barbs show that they are shy, retiring fish, and they are not very active. Two or four would work out just fine in a five gallon tank.

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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."

Sirbooks, everything you have said is true. I'm just hesitant, in doubt about the wisdom of this after keeping my own Cherry Barbs in a ten gallon tank. My Cherry Barbs were not shy or retiring and were very active. And when after more then three years I moved them to my 55 gallon they were the same. Now, if someone can tell me that for years they have kept Cherry Barbs in a 5 gallon tank and they did well. I'll be happy to tell eveybody to go get a 5 gallon and some Cherry Barbs!

Good point about activity...my pair are in a 10g and are quite the opposite, different personalities I suppose.

You also raised some very good questions about keeping small tanks.

Heat-I don't use a heater in my 5g but do have one here if the need arises. The nighttime temp is ~73&#176;, daytime ~76&#176;. I know people would argue that temp changes aren't good for the fish, I feel it's similar to how the fishes natural environment: daytime, nighttime, hot days, cooler days, etc. It certainly doesn't bother my Endler's

Lighting-I have a 5g Mini-bow, hood and light included.

Water changes-my tank is on a table, I put a bucket on the floor and gravel vac.

Tank mates-I think that depends on the fish. Like I said above, my cherries are rather shy so they were fine by themselves in a small tank. Because of their size and the small amount of waste they produce I now have a number of Endler's in a 5g, so there are no concerns about tankmates for them. With a 5g I would just caution against keeping fish that do require a school or friends, and are large enough that the tank wouldn't accommodate that.

Plants-I'm just starting to plant my 5g, having luck so far. [link=Here]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/49256.html?200410262239" style="COLOR: #FFFFC0[/link] is a thread I recently started on plants for a 5g. Good info on lighting and bensaf also posted a pic of his nicely planted 5g.

Meds-fortunately I haven't had to deal with this yet

I hope you don't mind my reply...not trying to argue, just let you know what's worked for me

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Theresa, love your fish pictures! How long did you have your Cherries? What happened? And one more, whats the longest you have kept any fish in a 5 gallon?

Glad you liked the pics, I'm very addicted to my digital camera

I still have my pair of cherries, they're in one of my 10g tanks.

I have to admit my 5g Mini-bow hasn't had many long-term occupants, but that's mainly because I start doing rearrangements with tanks &amp; fish I do have a 6g with dwarf puffers and bumblebee gobies that have been in there almost a year. It was my first planted tank and both the fish and plants are doing quite well.

The problem is we're in a townhouse and while I want more big tanks we simply don't have the room. So I get small tanks and find places for them here &amp; there

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean