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I have to tell you, the longer I have these little Tiger Barbs, the happier I am that we got them in the first place. I know they aren't the greatest community fish, which is why I have decided to just keep the 20g as a species tank for TB's. But, they can provide a TON of entertainment just watching their antics. They dart and chase each other almost ceaselessly. It's fun to watch them "stalk" each other from afar then "pounce" out of nowhere... They are almost like a cross between kittens and Jack Russell Terrier pups, too dang funny! My 5 yr old son (who chose the "tiger fish" in the first place) loves to sit and watch them.

The biggest of the remaining regular TBs (only 2 remained after the great Ich scurge of June/July 2007) is the bully. At one point yesterday, he had the other regular TB, and the three new Albinos all cowering in the plants, off to the sides of the tank while he basically swam guard around the open water areas. Too funny. It did concern me for the stress levels of the new fish but once I fed them, the big guy calmed down. Things seem to be better today.

I think once I fill the shoal out, they will be even better off. I intend to grab 3 Green Tiger Barbs, and two more regular ones, over time. I want to go slow so I don't cause a mini cycle. It took me long enough to get this tank cycled in the first place and I don't want to go down that road again! It would be nice to have smoe sort of bottom feeder/algae eater. But, with 10 TB's I will be full in a 20g, and my gravel/substrate is fairly edgy and rough, not so good for Corys. And my plastic plants aren't so great for Otos, so I will just stick with the TB's.

Over the years I have seen a few Tiger barb and mixed barb display tanks, yes they do look rather colourful and certainly always on the move.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Keith

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If you want a bottom eater, you could get a pleco, shrimp, snails, or loaches. A lot of loach species like to burrow themselves though. A clown loach might work though, they don't really bury themselves, however you would have to get a bigger tank eventually for the clown loach or return it to the LFS.

Scott, you make them sound so fun! A mix between a kitten and a jack russell? wow! I doubt my tank could handle them, but they sure sound fun! Strangely enough they are one of the common tropical fish i've never kept!

The pottery that growls!

I can't enough good things about these lil fellers! I added two small Green Tiger Barbs and 4 Ghost Shrimp yesterday. I fed them prior to releasing the newbies into the tank. I went ahead and released the greenies first to give them all something to do while the shrimp arrived on the scene.

Needless to say, the TB's were all quite curious with the shrimp, nipping and chasing until the shrimp installed themselves among the "plants" and rock in my tank. It will be curious to see how long they can co-habitate. It would be great if the TB's would leave the shrimp alone so they can live together and thrive.

An update... the Ghost shrimp experiment has failed, no survivors... But I know several well fed Tiger Barbs. I suppose I will be going without an algae eater/excess food/detrius eater in my 20g unless I change my substrate or plant the tank.

hi new, read your post about your tigar barbs i love themi have a 20 gal with 7 tigar barbs 6 silver dollars a placo a kissing gourami a 3-spot blue gourami a platy and a mollie plus 3 clown loaches and a juvie firemouth they all get along fine (the clown loaches:& and the juvie firemouth i intend to move soon to another tank with my Jack Dempsey and 2 oscars--I take care of my tanks and have no deaths and every one of them gets along with each other. the only time i had trouble is when i bought 2 3-spot blue gouramis and both were male alot of fighting going on had move 1 to another tank..oh yes get a placo they don't mess with your other fish, if you get clown loaches get more than one they love to enter act with each other.. ok bye

wow vally, that is TON of fish in the 20g... It sounds to me like you're probably well overstocked. I am curious to learn how long you have had this tank, what the water parameters are, filtration, etc...

Yeah, I think that's WAY too many, Vally -- you need to cut that in half. You may have kept them alive so far because you do frequent-enough water changes (and also because your Gouramis, being partial air-breathers, aren't as sensitive to dirty water) -- but if you fall behind schedule even once in changing their water, you might have a disaster. I might suggest getting rid of half the Silver Dollars to begin with -- they seem to be a bit more delicate, and also more shy, than the others you list.