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Hi all.
I currently have 9 tiger barbs, but I want to increase the school. I read somewhere (probably here ) that tigers should be kept in multiples of 3. However, I also read that schooling fish should be kept in odd numbers.
Sooooo..., should I add 3 and make the school an even 12?
Or, would it be better to add 6 and make the school an odd 15?

first how large is your tank and what other fish are in it?
if enought space is given, i don't see why you can't increase the school

I have a heavily planted 29g with good filtration. My params are all 0 including nitrate (due to the plants, which is why I want to increase my school). I also have 2 loaches in it. I don't want to increase my loach number because they each have their interesting personalities, and they don't stay around each other at all anyway.

What type of loaches are they? Some loaches will grow too large for your tank. Also, loaches are shoaling fish, meaning they prefer to be kept in groups. Another example of a shoaling fish is the cory. They like to be kept in groups of six or more, and the same goes with your loaches. As long as they are one of the smaller varieties, I would advocate getting more loaches, and not tigers. That's strictly for the health and well-being of the fish.

In any case, it doesn't really matter what multiples you keep tiger barbs in, or whether schooling fish are kept in odd or even numbers. As long as the fish have good food, clean water, places to swim and hide, and plenty of buddies, they won't care about anything else.

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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."

yes as far as i know schooling fish should be kept at a minumum of 6, any number above that should be fine (like i said, as far as i know! correct me if im wrong please! )

iv never heard of this multiples of 3 rule. was this just a rule for tiger barbs or for schooling fish in general? where did u hear it from?

I wouldn't increase your school. There's no need to do it. Those "rules" about multiples of three and such are BS. You don't need to get more barbs if you don't want to, since you already have a pretty good number of them.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

If you're going to do this try to find the same size fish as what you have. Big fish eat little fish...