Tinfoil barbs for a ~180

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seds

Feeder Fish
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Aug 23, 2008
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p18n%20Tinfoil.jpg


I am planning to buy a 180 gallon tank within the next few months for my tinfoil barbs. The four are a little over 8 inches and live in a 70 gallon tank. They are a bit over 2 years old. I have never measured them yet, they may be a bit bigger or even a bit smaller than I think. Since I am likely going to college in 2 years, I might not want to set it up for until I can get my own house or something, or I could leave it at my parents house I suppose. BUT regardless they will need a new tank eventually.



NOW for my issues.

1. How many tinfoil barbs would fit without overstocking? I hear 6 is considered minimum for most schooling fish. Is 30 gallons per fish enough? Or does that leave plenty of room? Bear in mind that any additional barbs would be around 2 inches at first.



2. Would it be possible for me to put another kind of fish in there? The fish I have my eye on are:
-*Giant danio*
-*Rosy barb*
-Featherfin catfish
-T-barb (they show up every once in a while here)
-Hornet Tilapia? (unsure on this one) ...*Convicts!*



3. If it would be possible for 2 species to co-exist in a 180 gallon, which would be the best tankmates; with temperature, aggression and waste in mind?



4. What plants taste gross enough for the barbs to ignore? Bladderwort and java moss are the only 2 I have heard taste awful to fish.




Here is my idea: rockscape with large bad tasting plants in the corners, 4-7 tinfoil barbs and then a LARGE school of 5ish inch fish (or 1-or other very small number of one of the 3 larger kinds ) I do 40% changes weekly already and don't mind heavy maintenance. I might also get a tank a bit smaller or a bit larger than 180, my range is 120------280. That is what they have at the aquatic superstore. PS I will try to get a filter that produces as strong of a current as possible.
**I might have to grow the rosy barbs/giant danios/convicts for a few months so they don't get eaten, depending on the size they are sold at. My 70 gallon could be used easily for this purpose. Either that or I could keep them seperated with a divider for the first few months.**

If anyone can help with any of my questions that would be cool. I don't know any real stocking laws except "1 Oscar for 55 gal min no other fish" and stuff like that.
 
I think the answer to most of your questions is yes.

you should be able to put 6 adult tinfoils in a 180, and by adult I mean 12-14 inches long.

I had two 12 inchers in a 65 myself.

most of the fish on your list should be compatible with tinfoils, as they are generally peaceful fish, its the others that you have to worry about.

growing up your smaller fish is good, since tinfoils will eat anything, small fish including.

not sure about the plants, I have a feeling even java moss will be eaten eventually. all it takes is for some of the big boys to get hungry one day...Mine used to try and eat my PLASTIC plants.

my old barbs. they were 11 years old when I sold them (moved and sold the tank. bought a 150- have yellowfin barbs growing up at the moment)

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Those are some nice tinfoils. Did they get that big in less than 2 years? If they did I might be doing something wrong...

I haven't seen my barbs eat any of the java moss I have, (had it about a month) but there is barely any left and I figured it died back. I got a lot of plastic plants with them, I put them all in the corner so that it is out of their way.

I wasn't sure about the tilapia, I heard they are terrors and really big, but I like the look of them. Convicts have a similar color but they are probably small enough for the barbs to escape their wrath, and big enough to avoid being eaten. I am not sure about featherfins either for some reason. The synos I have hide allll the time. I know an oscar makes a good tankmate but they eat oscar poo and I was wanting to try something new.

T barbs and Rosy barbs are probably my #1 choice in my opinion, because I like barbs and they are peaceful, cheap and pretty. AND bigger than giant danio. You didn't exactly say if 6 tinfoils and something else will fit. But you did say yes to all Qs so... probably yes is the answer. My oldest barb has eaten a couple smaller fish in his lifetime,(head and tail light tetra and zebra danio ... and a baby clawed frog) so I know they will eat tiny fish.


I suppose I should mention that they are probably comfortable in the tank they are in but I want to see them swim faster and more natural looking. Also, 4 in a 70 is probably a bit overstocked... but I do have a big sump.
 
they got that big in one year. they should grow an inch per month if feeding properly.

what are you feeding yours?

I found mine grew super fast on Wardley's shrimp pellets and tetra colour bits.

once they got big enough, they loved Tetra Cichlid floating sticks too.

you want to get them eating a high quality high protein pellet or food stick as soon as you can.
 
OK. I am feeding them some tropical flakes from "Nutrafin." Is that a cruddy brand? I occasionally feed them peas and rice, about once a week. I fed them green beans once.

I give them banana once in a blue moon, they won't eat any other greens... sometimes they will eat broccoli but often it sits at the top.

I guess I should feed them my OMEGA ONE cichlid pellets, but there is a big log floating at the top of the tank and they are timid about taking floating foods with it up there. I used to have an oscar.
 
OK Thanks. Just now I tried the omega one and they ignored it until I crushed the bubbles out and it sank. I will try to find sinking pellets for them. I found algae wafers a few days ago but it was 60 bucks for a bag... so I didn't get any.
 
I've got a school of 5, ranging from 6" to 8".

Ditto on what 12V Man said on the sinking shrimp pellets; they're like barb popcorn.

Mine seem to like cucumber and spinach okay, but your mileage may vary -- especially if they're skittish of floating foods, and you're trying to get them to grow fast (not going to happen with a vegan diet). Freeze dried tubifex worm cubes are a pretty big hit too, but also have the floating problem.

Frozen bloodworm and beef heart cubes work well for mine. And once in a great while -- small pieces of cooked chicken breast -- it's pretty good at sinking. They'll think it's the second coming of Christ, lol. :)
 
A hornet tilapia is a Tilapia buttikoferi. They aren't nice at all.
 
I researched Tilapia buttikoferi and got mixed results on their opinion on tankmates, but most agree that they are very aggressive.

Anyone had any personal experience with them being housed with large shoaling fishes? Or anything else? I heard they are more aggressive in smaller tanks. Most people keep a single specimen or a mated pair... Right now giant danios and other large barbs seem to be the best option... but everyone I saw loved these tilapia things. They claim they are extremely intelligent.

I feel I should mention I think it is a beautiful looking cichlid.
 
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