Flowerhorn + barbs

[artes]

Hi. I have a baby flowerhorn that is about 3 inches long. He'll be moving to a 40 gallon soon (I don't plan on that being his adult tank, but it is available now, and I plan on a 55 gallon update once I can get it), and I was thinking about possible dither fish for him. I was thinking black ruby barbs would look great with his coloring, so my question is: if I move the barbs in with him while he's still small, will he think that they are food, or will he think that they are fellow tank inhabitants? Thanks!

 

[Greg31]

He will eat them once he can. Flowerhorn don't make friends for the most part. In a big enough tank bichirs or plecos may work.

 

[artes]

That's what I was afraid of. Ok, thank you very much!

 

[Kaliedoscope]

he also might kill them for fun. my flowerhorn has done this with dithers.

 

[IrnGynt]

Nothing is safe with my flowerhorn except my hand and that's only a recent development.

 

[tiddlywinks]

one of my FH is with a rtc and a columbian shark. ppl say poly's are good too.
FH's dont like fast moving fish at all btw

 

[artes]

I checked out your flowerhorn IrnGynt. He is beautiful! I think mine is a different type, but I hope he [she? I have no idea] comes out as lovely!

 

[artes]

This is mine, named Mercy. Do y'all know if he/she's a boy or a girl? Or what kind she is?