HiHi

Hello

I am totally new to the aquarium hobby and happened upon this forum last night. I was busy looking for advice w.r.t tank mates for tiger barbs. I have a 160liter tank that is cycled and currently I have 5 green tiger barbs in there. What else can I add that will live with my green terrors? The water ph is around 7.8, and the guy that keeps koi’s up the road just said the water is "hard with a capital F". I want to get 6 more normal barbs.
Or do I get a small tank with the barbs only and start over in the big tank with fish that will thrive with the PH I have? I don’t really want to start a smaller tank for the barbs only as I love my green terrorists.
any ideas or suggestions will be much appreciated

 

Hi Dann - welcome to the hobby and TASA! - Increase Your shoal size by another six or so - this will cut down on their inherrent agression...Your tank is of a size where you can consider a mixed community of medium sized fish...

Dont break your head over the pH to much - most of us in Gauteng have to contend with this...

 

I agree with azurekoi.

Hello and Welcome to a world of fish madness. You will find everything you need to know and meet wonderful people(possibly more fish crazy than myself).

From,
SA Molly Breeder

 

Hi and welcome to TASA.
As stated with the previous post, don't try and change the pH, because this can cause problems in the long run with fishes.

Hope you enjoy the site.

 

Welcome! While your pH and hardness are not optimal for tiger barbs, they're pretty hardy and should be fine. Like azurekoi said, increasing the shoal size helps to keep their aggression centred within the shoal. The main concern with tankmates for tiger barbs is their fin-nipping, so fish with longer and more delicate fins such as Angelfish and bettas for example could take some damage from them. Perhaps concentrate on getting a good mix of medium-sized fish that are also fairly active; they generally make the best tankmates for tiger barbs.

 

Hmmn - stay with the asian theme - there are lots of wonderfull fish that will go with your Tiger barbs... Im thinking 4 x Zebra Botia loaches,4 Pearl Gouramis and a small shoal of 10 x Pearl Danios...nice mix of colour and they will occupy all levels of your tank... Throw in a Red tailed Black shark for another splash of colour...

 

Welcome Dandruff..... some sound advice already.... stick with us..... we'll help you all the way!

 

Welcome

 

hi all, thanks for the advice. I was at the closest petshop on Saturday to get 6 more normal barbs, but no tiger barbs were available. I was planning on getting two Firemouth Cichlid's but Azurekoi's idea is a better one. Thanks.
How long can fish survive in the bags the petshops place them? I stay around 300km from JHB so I dont really want to buy fish only to have them die on the way back home?
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I'd say about 3 hours max (to be safe) in a regular, well tied up plastic bag. Some shops use 'technical oxygen' which lasts longer, around 6 hours so I've heard. Ask for this if you're worried about the trip.

Keep the fish in the bag in either a polystyrene box or cooler box to keep the temperature roughly stable, and keep that out of any direct sunlight and your fish should be fine.

 

300km???..... they will survive...... Insist that they put very little water in the bag and lots of air..... (refuse the little oxygen tablets).... they are just a hoax...... Your fish will survive 300km