Tiger Barbes the perfect addition.

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Aquanero

Aquanero

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So, here’s the deal. After reading about a few members using Tiger Barbs with success in their cichlid tanks and after watching a really cool video of a beautiful Midas swimming majestically among a tranquil school of mixed Tiger Barbs I decided I’d give it shot. I set up a spare 20 and went out and bought a dozen of the biggest ones they had, a good 1.5” long. I treated them with some Prazi and after a week or so with everything looking good introduced them to my RD tank. Before putting the barbs in the tank I set up a nice tangle of driftwood with one of those fake hollow logs under it so they would have a place to hide if needed. Still not feeling 100% confident about this, I feed the psychotic maniac two huge night crawlers and put in the barbs. I was amazed, he paid no attention to them at all! Other than a slight sniff here and there he could’ve given two you know what’s about them. I was messing around with my son imitating George Lopez “Yo I got this!” Yesterday when I got home I went to feed him his night crawler and he wasn’t hungry, oh boy, what’s going on here, he always rips it out of my hand. A quick head count, 10 barbs, this morning 9! $25.00 dollars spent on feeders. Then my son starts in with “Yo, Neptune what happened?” wise ass! Admittedly it is a 4ft tank 90 gals not a 6 or 8 but I really think even if it was longer it would only buy them a couple of more days.
He’s been getting worse lately he used to go nuts at about 4-6ft from the tank now if somebody walks into the room you get gill fairing, swimming back and forth with the snapping getting louder as you get closer, I was hoping the barbs would mellow him out a little and redirect some of his attention, which in fact I guess they did just not as intended. He is also starting to grow two nasty looking white front teeth about a 1/16th inch long. I’ll see if he lets any live but I guess now that he got a taste of barb meat there’s no turning back. The classic disclaimer goes here “it depends on the individual fish”. File this under Epic Fail!!!!

Thought I’d share this with everyone I found it to be pretty funny.
 
no he said he is down to 9 now, and yeah scotts tank was an inspiration to me as well and i was going to try and have regulars mixed in with greens with my tank but i found the greens way too weak and it was really irritating me how many of them i was loosing while not loosing a single regular barbs so i changed my mind on that i cant stand it when fish die for no reason at all, but now im thinking of doing my tank all south american (or at least mostly with my argentea being the only CA) so im not going to go with them at all but it was a fun idea to toy with. but yeah i think with maybe a bigger tank with more space to get away and maybe some really tall and leafy fake plants for them to swim through they might have better chances but yeah scott def got lucky with his guy (also his guy is a midas while yours is a RD and RD tend to be more agro so that could be the issue as well)
 
I was seriously thinking about adding Tigers to my tank but I didn't have the nerve. I feared a little of Aquanero's experience. But I still may give it a try. I just made some changes to my stock so they may work. Tigers seem to look and act more interesting than danios or tetras. Aquanero, don't give up the experiment with the Tigers until you get down to the last one! I really wish Sarah's try with the Tigers worked out for her.
 
I feel the same way. Tiger barbs are great, they're like a little pack of wolves.
Just a thought but maybee he thought they were his babies, that could cause increased aggression. Or hes just growing out his tiger barb munching teeth. NOM NOM NOM. Or hes just tryin to say noooo more barbs!
Im on the list of unsuccessful barb owners. I had 14, for a couple days. A proper school is hard to come by.
*Barbs have been known to actually eat each other. IME jumbo tetra work much better in the long run.
 
I had a hard time keeping Tiger Barbs alive too, especially the greens.

I now have 8 Black Ruby Barbs and been no probs for a year.

...Bill
 
Thanks guys, sorry to hear it's not working for any. Jr's parents don't tolerate anything else in the tank. As I have warned in the threads, Jr(My Midas) is not your average Midas as far as temperment. He lives with Barbs, Clown loaches, and Plecos with no hastle other then an occasional display of dominace with a half @$$*& chase that leads to nothing. He only really gets agressive durring feeding towards the smaller Midas because he views him as compition. For a Midas, he is a teadybear. Though lately he has nailed me alot when cleaning his tank if I even go near his pot. :grinno:

With cichlids or fish in general you never know, its always the personal tempermant of the fish. I found out his temperment on accident when I got these tiger barbs through buying a 55g to turn around and sell. I just wanted the Rena Xp3. Whole setup was $70. I always liked Tiger barbs and clown loaches, so it worked out. You just have to observe your fish and see how he acts. Jr only rushes to eat or when he sees my wife's pomeranian. Tom, I remember all the pictures and what not on your RD and I would have warned ya. That guy is a solo fish for sure. A definite glass banger. Your RD goes nuts every time your in the room. So it was a slim to none with him.

Sarah, I finally got all my barbs to survive. The Greens and Albino/Golds are definently not as hardy as the regulars. Took me acouple months to insure a full schoal of healthy ones, but it was worth it.

Anyway, thanks all for the kind words on my tank. My wife hates my tank and wants me to get rid of it saying no one cares about my stupid fish. This just gives her some crow to eat. Not to mention Tom you said Jr was Majestic which I think is awsome. So for you guys here is my video. I might do another one just for you all tonight after I put my new baby girl(#4 kid for me) down for the night. Enjoy
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Thanks Scott, yeah I kind knew it wouldn't work but gave it a shot anyway what the hell. He is a lone wolf, that fish has serious issues. I should do a video next to yours with exploding barbs and a scale strewn tank, with the disclamer don't try this at home. Let your wife know you're not the only fish geek and the rest of us hear the same crap. Maybe they could start a MFK wifes forum. JR is majestic, I said it again that's twice in one week!
 
Aquanero;4323327; said:
I was messing around with my son imitating George Lopez “Yo I got this!”
Click to expand...


Aquanero;4323327; said:
A quick head count, 10 barbs, this morning 9! Then my son starts in with “Yo, Neptune what happened?” wise ass!
Click to expand...

:ROFL:
 
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