Lemon fin Barb Question

[Casper2000]

What's their availability like? Growth rate compared to regular tinfoils? Aggro tendencies? I'm really looking to get one, they look magnificent when they grow larger imo. Any help is appreciated! Thanks

P.S. if anyone has any pls post pics!

 

[Cichlas]

Growth rate is pretty quick. I found it to be much quicker than tinfoils and they also consume much more food. The ones I had were 18" when they died and still had plenty of growing to do. So the upshot is that you need a big tank, bugger than one required for tinfoils. Water quality, and especially oxygen levels need to be good. Mine were the first in the tank to suffer during power cuts and would "lose consciousness" and I had to hold them upright. Their demise came about when they pulled an electronic thermometer into the tank and the battery leaked. I was well gutted. Real quality fish that are litterally bulls in a china shop. There is no finesse with them, they are just there and they are big, bulky eating machines.

Can't really comment on availability, over here in the UK they are quite common.

Sadly no pics of them grown up, but couple of them as "babies".

 

[Casper2000]

Those barbs look ace, I bet they looked even better at 18". If you don't mind answering what size tank did you keep them in and how many did you have? I'm planning to put them in a 7x2x2 (still in the process of being ordered) I was thinking of only getting two lemons and one foil would that be enough? I know a few sites reccomend 5 for shoaling.

Also since my tank isn't done yet I was thinking of just putting them in a 30G growout till I finally get the 7'. Will doing that stunt their growth? Thanks again for all the insight!

 

[haynchinook334]

i like um....nice color.

 

[hbluehunter]

I wish i could get my hands on some !!! Me and a couple other members here in Wa. State would like to grab some but the LFS here won't even order them in for us. I guess to many complaints about how fast they grow... Sucks for us guys that have room for them and can't get them...

 

[Casper2000]

Just stopped by petland today and they a whole tank full of lemons. $6 each or 2 for $10 something like that. Gonna picking them up soon just need to know if its ok to drop em in my 30G grow out or if it'll stunt their growth

 

[The TRUST]

I wish i could get my hands on some !!! Me and a couple other members here in Wa. State would like to grab some but the LFS here won't even order them in for us. I guess to many complaints about how fast they grow... Sucks for us guys that have room for them and can't get them...

if they show up here again I'm buying 10-20 of them

 

[Casper2000]

HAHA you fiend! I hope you have an insanely large tank to accommodate them when they reach over 15". They look like such beasts when they get older I can't wait.

Btw is that your supra in your avatar?

 

[Casper2000]

Purchased two lemons today. Really small like 1 1/2". One last question before I let this thread fall into oblivion, will barbs continue to grow large if kept in a small(ish) tank or will it stunt their growth for a time/permanently? I want them to reach monsterous proportions eventually but my massive tank isn't going to be ready for awhile :/.

They are currently in a 30G grow out.

 

[Cichlas]

Purchased two lemons today. Really small like 1 1/2". One last question before I let this thread fall into oblivion, will barbs continue to grow large if kept in a small(ish) tank or will it stunt their growth for a time/permanently? I want them to reach monsterous proportions eventually but my massive tank isn't going to be ready for awhile :/.

They are currently in a 30G grow out.

With proper water maintenance, they will not stunt. If you stunt them now, they will never grow so it is best not to start down that road. If fed well, a 30G will not last long so they will need to move to something bigger. FWIW, I grew mine to about 6" in a 55, then to 12" in a 90 and they reached 18"+ before their demise in a 180.