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Okay, I have read that cherry barbs should be kept in schools of 6 or more; however, I have also read that they are shy to thier own kind and should only be kept in pairs. Which is true? If they are kept in schools, what should the male/female ratio be? Thanks in advance!

I have 2, they are perfectly fine...i think they might do good in a school as well, but yeah i only have 2 lol

Everything I've read about cherries states they don't shoal like other barbs; because of this and their tendency to be rather shy they're best kept in pairs.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I have heard that in smaller tanks it is even advisable to get just one or they will fight over territory.

I've never heard of or seen such a thing. Cherry barbs are very peaceful, they won't fight at all, with any fish. It would probably be nice to keep them in large groups, but they won't shoal much anyways. Keeping them in pairs is fine, I used to have two pairs of cherry barbs, and they were pretty happy.

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I have seen charry barbs fight each other over territory. I have two males and when they were first introduced in the tank, they would fight whenever near each other. They have since set up boundaries or learned to live together happily.

I have heard that in smaller tanks it is even advisable to get just one or they will fight over territory.

I've never heard of anything like that either, but I've only kept one M/F pair at a time. Is there more of a territorial tendency when males are kept together?

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

My cherry barbs are verry nice. I have a trio of them, two females and a male.

I have 2 males and 4 females in my 55g planted. As they have settled in I have definately noticed some territory arguments between the males. Nothing serious though, just a bit of chasing. He even chases the RTB!

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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.

As far as I know it's not a territory/aggressive thing. Apparently males are very shy and timid with other males. If you have more then one male they end up hiding from one another most of the time. That's the theory anyway

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Here's what my Cherry Barbs were like. I kept ten in a ten gallon tank for over 3 years. They schooled and played and got along great. They were all males and I never saw any fighting. They would color up every so often but still no fights. They seemed to have buddies as I always saw the same fish together all the time as they schooled. Nothing ever went wrong in this little ten gallon and it was one of my prettier tanks. Then 7 months ago I moved my Cherry Barbs into my 55 gallon. They did great with the other fish. They didn't hide any more then any of my other fish. I have to say they schooled as well as my Cardinals. I would of had these fish 4 years if it wasn't for a heater mishap that killed all my fish in the 55 gallon tank. Great fish and I will be looking for more to add to the 55 gallon when I re-stock. I must say again, I had all males. Adding a female might have changed everything.