Are barbs good?

If you have absolutely no idea where to start in stocking your tank, barbs are a great option. There are many species of barb to choose from and several are very popular in the aquarium hobby. These fish tend to do well in community tanks and they are not particularly difficult to keep in the home aquarium.

Are barbs good for beginners?

Rosy Barb: Is easily the most larger and popular member of the barbs family, their fame is known for their incredible "water-tolerant" behaviour, making them one of the first fish that beginner fish hobbyists can care for in their new fish tanks.

Are barbs good fish?

Many barb fish do well in cooler water temperatures, making them a great choice for unheated aquariums. They are generally peaceful fish but tend to be very active so choosing the right tankmates is important. They have a bit of a reputation in the hobby and some species are known fin-nippers.

Are barbs hard to keep?

These are bright yellow coloured fish that are very well behaved, medium-sized and easy to keep. They suit community aquariums of 90cm and 180 litres or more. Or Neon Rosy barbs, which are just as happy in unheated aquariums and are suitable for beginners too.

Are barbs peaceful?

While some species can be boisterous, there are a number of peaceful species like cherry barbs, gold, checkerboard and pentazona barbs that make great community tank inhabitants. Males are typically smaller and more colorful, while females tend to be larger and heavier bodied.

Top 5 Barb Fish for your Aquarium

How big can barbs get?

Most barbs stay small and average between 2 to 6 inches, but there are some species, like tinfoil barbs, that can grow to 14+ inches.

Are barbs aggressive?

While many species of barb get along well in community tanks, some tend to be semi-aggressive. To prevent aggressive behaviors, it is best to keep these fish in groups with six or more of their own species. These fish also tend to be jumpers, so it is important to keep a tight-fitting lid on the aquarium.

Is 4 tiger barbs enough?

Keeping Tiger Barbs Together

In a group of less than 8, Barbs will behave aggressively with the other fish in your tank. They are at their best in groups of 8 to 12, and they are extremely playful and social with each another.

What fish can go with barbs?

Provided there is considerable space, one of the best tankmates for the tiger barb is the clown loach; it will even school with the tiger barbs and act as they do. Alternatively, pair the tiger barb with fast-moving tankmates such as danios, platys, loaches, or catfish.

Can I keep 2 tiger barbs?

You need to house at least six tiger barbs together, as they are a schooling fish. They will become more aggressive to tankmates if you have a group of less than six. Choose a large aquarium. A 20 gallon aquarium (75 liters) is the minimum size for six tiger barbs.

Can you put barbs and tetras together?

As for their compatibility with Tiger Barbs, you should watch out for fin-nipping. They may not be a match made in heaven, but if your Tiger Barbs aren't too temperamental and you can curb their fin-nipping behavior, they will get along just fine. Otherwise, Tetras are great community fish that can live up to 8 years.

How many barbs should be kept together?

Tiger Barb Tank Mates

As a general rule, you should avoid slow-moving fish. They will only become a target. You must also keep Tiger Barbs in a group of at least six. If you have a larger tank, you can keep as many as 12 together.

How long do barbs live for?

Tiger barbs in the wild have a longer lifespan of 6 to 7 years, while in captivity they live 3-4 years. Kept in home aquariums, tiger barbs reach sizes of up to 3 inches, while in the wild they can grow up to 4 inches.

Are barbs fin nippers?

Finally, there are the fishes like the tiger barb that nip fins only when they normal behaviour cannot be properly expressed. In this case, tiger barbs usually turn into fin-nippers when they aren't kept in large enough groups.

Is cherry barb aggressive?

While generally peaceful, cherry barbs, particularly the males, can become aggressive and territorial during spawning. Ensure there are more males than females and that there's plenty of space and hiding spots in the tank. Unlike many other barb species, cherry barbs rarely exhibit fin-nipping behavior.

Can cherry barbs live with Betta?

Betta fish and Cherry Barbs were definitely one of the most successful pairings. Betta fish and Cherry Barbs can live together in the same aquarium providing the tank offers sufficient space. A minimum of 20 gallons (76 liters) would be required to accommodate Betta fish snd Cherry Barbs in the same tank.

Do barbs eat other fish?

Tiger barbs have unusual temperament: Unlike most schooling fish, tiger barbs are aggressive -- but unlike most fish aggression, tiger barbs' aggression is not tied to territory or predation on smaller fish.

Can barbs live with goldfish?

In general, goldfish are peaceful animals that will not thrive with aggressive barbs, African cichlids, and other large cichlids.

Can guppies live with barbs?

Fish you should never keep together with tiger barbs are guppies, angelfish, bettas, goldfish, cichlids. Other docile fish with flowy fins and fish that are too aggressive aren't a good match either.

Why is my barb swimming upside down?

The impaired buoyancy in fish is caused by a malfunction of their swim bladder. When affected by Swim Bladder Disorder fish will often lose the ability to properly swim. They will float uncontrollably to the top of the aquarium, turned upside down, while still being alive.

Do tiger barbs jump?

They're not huge jumpers, but they definitely jump if they want to.

Can a barb live in 10 gallon tank?

While the Golden Dwarf Barb (Pethia gelius) is one of the less well-known Barbs, it is an ideal freshwater fish for a 10-gallon tank because it only grows to 1.5 inches.

What is the best barb fish?

Is Molly fish aggressive?

Mollies are peaceful, but the fish show signs of aggression when housed in overcrowded tanks or with aggressive tank mates. For this reason, you should house molly fish with friendly fish, and give the fish plenty of space to swim in.

Are cherry barbs peaceful?

The Cherry Barb is the quintessential “peaceful” fish. They don't want to cause any trouble and prefer to mind their own business! The only time where you might see these fish display aggressive behavior is during mating.