Advice on adding additional fish to a community

[Darth]

Hi,
I am new to MonsterFishKeepers. Look forward to becoming a productive member.

My questions relate to adding fish - to increase school size - in an existing fish tank. I have adopted an aquarium (70 gallons, along with the fish and the works) a couple of months ago from a friend. My favorite fish in the aquarium are the Red Tailed Tin Foils (barbonymus altus). Have two of them and they are about 7 inches long. I am told that they don't grow more than 8 inches. The aquarium has plenty of room to add more fish...and I want to increase the number of tin-foil to a school of about 5.

My question are as follows:

• My local aquarium only has young tin foil barbs (just less than 2 inches long). Can I introduce them to the aquarium OR do I need to find the same size ones first?
• If I can introduce the smaller ones to the aquarium, what strategies should I use to get them to all get along?

Personally, I would enjoy adding the smaller fish and watch them grow...but am concerned if the bigger Tin Foils might bully the little ones.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Darth

FYI. I have a school of 4 Blood Parrots in the tank but would like to replace / sell them off in the coming months. Don't have anything other fish at this stage. Any advice on what else I can / should add to the tank would be much appreciated.

 

[stopani88]

i like to float the new fish not really to acclimate them but to put a barrier between my new fish and old fish while there checking it out. also i kill the lights but keep an eye on them while they get settled in. also if there some decor in there move that around to break up territories and give the fish an equal chance in the pecking order.

 

[Darth]

Thanks for your response. In other words, you are saying that if I take the precautions you mention, introducing smaller fish of the same species is not a problem? Thanks again!!!!

 

[Drstrangelove]

Tin foils typically shoal (one fish is the alpha) and aren't territorial or very aggressive, so once all agree on the pecking order, life is grand. Since the new ones are far from bite size, they should get along. Make sure you note that the new fish may not get enough food if the alpha grabs a lot of it, so their growth may be slow unless you make sure to feed enough.