Might be the wrong forum- but what are your favorite large barbs for CA/SA cichlids

[PhishMon84]

title says it all-

Looking for fish larger than Denison’s/torpedoes, thinking Spanner Barb would be the smallest considered.

So for standard 6x18 or 6x2
Anyone keeping any intersting schools in their cichlid tanks, mixed schools, single species school or solo oddball -

Pics and experiences welcomed

 

[james99]

I like filament Barbs. They get pretty big and have nice color. Masceras are nice too, bit I haven't kept them.

 

[PhishMon84]

I like filament Barbs. They get pretty big and have nice color. Masceras are nice too, bit I haven't kept them.

Thanks for the reply-

I do like those.
Was thinking larger than that- like tinfoil, hard lipped, hampala sp. LabeoBarbus sp.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I kept some clown barbs in a 6' tank with cichlids, they were good dithers.
The barbs were about 5-6". For reference, the vieja in this pic was 10+"

 

[PhishMon84]

It looks like a more colorful Tbarb/spanner.

What’s the group size?
- I want a fish that I don’t need a huge group of for success.

Been looking for maybe 1 larger growing plus a trio something like that or spanner. If they can hang in small groups.
Also considering Chalceus, kept a very skittish singleton but thinking a group may be less jumpy

 

[Toiletcar]

It looks like a more colorful Tbarb/spanner.

What’s the group size?
- I want a fish that I don’t need a huge group of for success.

Been looking for maybe 1 larger growing plus a trio something like that or spanner. If they can hang in small groups.
Also considering Chalceus, kept a very skittish singleton but thinking a group may be less jumpy

Chalceus are characidae. Not sure if you are looking for dithers, but they stay near the surface. Barbs of any kind probably be a better choice for dithers. Most species are pretty easy to maintain.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Chalceus are very cool fish
My clown barbs lived just fine in a group of 3, until one was murdered. Then the two of them still did well.

 

[PhishMon84]

Chalceus are characidae. Not sure if you are looking for dithers, but they stay near the surface. Barbs of any kind probably be a better choice for dithers. Most species are pretty easy to maintain.

Just looking to add something that isn’t a cat or cichlid- has some size-
And can hang toughness wise in either a CA or SA community-
Chalceus was kind of my outlying option, that I’ve had some experience with but only solo.

 

[Toiletcar]

Just looking to add something that isn’t a cat or cichlid- has some size-
And can hang toughness wise in either a CA or SA community-
Chalceus was kind of my outlying option, that I’ve had some experience with but only solo.

In that case they would be good.

For toughness I would consider any kind of astyanax tetra. These things are tough as nails. In fact chase cichlids sometimes. They are hard to find though. Don’t make good community fish, only good w/ cichlids, maybe other large tetras like SD etc. I tried adding some 3” swordtails and they were ripped apart before I could save them. They are fast and frenzy like piranhas.

 

[dan518]

Nearly got a brycon melanopterus, can get huge but can cope with most aggressive rank mates.