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Gouramis are aggressive to each other. In the relatively cramped quarters of a 15 they will likely kill each other. If not now, when they get big enough their hormones start hitting them.

Tiger barbs grow to about 3" each. They're also very active fish. How long is your aquarium, 30 inches at the most, I would guess? That gives them only 10 fish lengths to swim at the longest point. They'll cover that in about a second. That's a really cramped tank! The smallest tank size I would recommend for tiger barbs would be about 30 gallons - minimum!

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It seems you have other posts regarding this tank but I've only read this one so that's all I'll comment on.

First you asked if you could add gouramis, then by your later posts it seems you already have them.

Inches per gallon is a general idea, not a rule. For example, a 20" fish does not belong in a 20g tank.

Your fish are living, but happy? Who knows. Tiger barbs like room to swim, that's been mentioned a number of times. You can put a big dog in a small apartment without a yard and it will live but not necessarily be happy and thrive.

No we aren't scientists. We also aren't people looking to posts to critcize and pick on, we're trying to help by sharing our knowledge and experience. If you already have the tank set up the way you want why did you post this question, especially since you don't seem to like the answers you're receiving?

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

now if i had a rtbs in a 15 g then u could call me the things ur saying..

RTBS arn't the only thing you can't put in a 15g.



Inky

The point we are trying to make here is that six 3 inch tiger barbs will not live happily in a 15g tank. They are very active, as mentioned several times before. They need a long tank that is a minimum of a 20g long. They need lots of room to swim and be active. Nothing will change the fact that these fish don't belong in that tank. They may seem happy, but they aren't. They need alot of swimming space.

*Kristin*

Nice way to wrap it up... But i think 6 would live happy in a 15g by themselves...

Chris

Just add your fishes slowly in small numbers by doing water parameter testings. Good Luck!

But i think 6 would live happy in a 15g by themselves

They are not by themselves though. He also has two gouramis.
A 15g tank doesn't give the barbs enough room to be active. Therefore, it isn't big enough.

*Kristin*

Well, with the bio load, it really depends on your filtration and bacteria build up. If you add all the fish at once within one week of setup, god bless them. But if you add them slowly, with good filtration and sufficient bacteria to substain the system you should be fine. As long as you remember to do regular water changes and monitor your water quality closely.

About putting all that fish in a restrictly small area, it's not the most ethical way to fish keeping. But I've seen worse. According to what you've said that we are not scientists, I can see that you might be one but only at one specific field. Polulation Ecologist. The only reason I get make sense of is you are trying an experiment to see for your self how organisms suffer under high populated area. Not mentioning about ecological competition and agression.


Good luck with your experiment and god bless those poor fish you have.

ok why are you all flaming this person? O.k he/she has made a mistake you should all be trieing to help and guide him NOT Flaming him/her

We all have had to start some where
we have all make mistakes

I dont agree with inch to gallon thumb rule as someone could have a 29gal tank BUT it could be 18x30(deep)x12(wide) its 29gals but not as long


Now getting back on topic

Tiger barbs IMO should be kept in a 29gal+ tank simply because there a natural shoaling fish

Your gouramis are ok in a 15 gal as long as you have enough over/plant/hiding places.

If i were you id take back your tiger barbs and swap ( if you can) them for plant or neons for just somthing easy , get info before buying a fish.

sorry if i went a bit of track but i hope this helps

We have tried suggestions answers and advice to help, but he is simply not listening. He doesn't think anything is wrong with his setup, yet he is still asking questions. Read the first part, we suggested changing the tiger barbs for something else, but he didn't see why he should do that.

We tried!

*Kristin*

and thats all me can do

I think he wants us to reply something like this:

"WOW! Tiger Barbs! A school of 6+ would go great in that tank and leave you room for anyother fish you want"

I know a lot of people with that kind of attitude. All you can do is tell um what you think and hope for the best.

Inky

I think that you have a great ideat and that Tiger Barbs will work great in there. IMHO, I think that you should get an air pump to get some insurance.

Good luck, and by this I'm not flaming you!