Tiger barb growth rate

ehh

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2013
4,922
1,838
439
New Mexico
I've had mine for about ten months and I feel they haven't grown a millimeter.

Is that normal?
 

Fish Tank Travis

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Feb 28, 2016
3,277
2,157
164
36
Dayton, OH
I have a couple glo tiger barbs in my sons 10 gal aquarium. One was about 3/4"-1" when I got him and the other was about 1/2"-3/4". The larger one has blown up and is near 2" now with a fat stomach. The smaller one has also grown, but not as quickly. He is about 1-1/4" now, but doesn't have a giant stomach like the larger one. I have had them less than 6 months.
 

fishnatics

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Mar 1, 2008
2,885
1,140
179
Wisconsin
Mine seem to grow at a good rate. My first 8 were bought in March 2016 and they're super fat an around 3". My last batch of 10 were bought in early May and now they're almost the same size. I feed them like 3x a day. Lots of flakes, pellets and frozen bloodworms with occasional live black worms. 30 gal water change every week.
 

ehh

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2013
4,922
1,838
439
New Mexico
I don't feed mine that much. Once a day. Sometimes every other day. And the pellets are plant based... Guess I'll just keep waiting lol
 

Beetlebug515

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 28, 2015
929
417
72
33
It might be prudent to add more protein to their diet, and offer less food moor frequently. From what I understand, tiger barbs are omnivores. A little extra meat might do them well.
 

ehh

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2013
4,922
1,838
439
New Mexico
It might be prudent to add more protein to their diet, and offer less food moor frequently. From what I understand, tiger barbs are omnivores. A little extra meat might do them well.
They can handle a more meaty diet? My ruby barbs grew out really fast but I lost them quickly. Only after about a year. I blamed on their diet being to meaty.
 

Beetlebug515

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 28, 2015
929
417
72
33
Depends on what you would call "meaty". I wouldn't pump them full of too much frozen stuff like beef heart or tilapia, but crushed massivore should help them along along with the occasional bloodworm snack. Massivore has turned in to my go to for adding protein.
 

ehh

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2013
4,922
1,838
439
New Mexico
Depends on what you would call "meaty". I wouldn't pump them full of too much frozen stuff like beef heart or tilapia, but crushed massivore should help them along along with the occasional bloodworm snack. Massivore has turned in to my go to for adding protein.
Oh no. Definitely nothing like that. I have other food I can feed them. I'll give that a shot. I just got paranoid when my ruby barbs grew super fast then died.
 

Beetlebug515

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 28, 2015
929
417
72
33
Makes sense. I would do 1 protein feeding to 3 days plant feedings and bump up to 2x small feedings per day. The same schedule worked very well with my rose line barbs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ehh
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store