Cherry Barbs

SchizotypalVamp

SchizotypalVamp

The REAL AC Mafia
Mar 18, 2008
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California
I have cherry barbs as one of the species appropriate to stock in a ten gallon. I have now heard on this forum, however, that a ten gallon is too small for them. I also first heard here that they would work. The internet provides contradictory info. So, I want to know, from people who have kept them-are they fine to stock or should I get the list edited? Is there a barb specific places such as planetcatfish or cichlid forum where I can also ask? Thanks!
 
Cherry barbs are small and peaceful...I can't imagine a problem keeping them in a 10 gallon. I think 6 in there would be fine. I don't have a 10 set up now (I only have one for a hospital tank), but I've kept cherry barbs several times over the years and they are just not aggressive and they stay less than 2"...so why wouldn't they be fine in a 10 gallon tank?

Eric
 
I currently have 2 males and 6 females in a 10 gallon heavily planted tank. I have removed some plants as I found they just sat around. With more swimming room they swim around more. So obviously a bigger tank is better. Mine have been in the tank for over a year now, alone. The females are huge and plump, the males are full grown. The males will fight and get wounded so make sure to do weekly 50% water changes to keep everyone healthy.
 
I suspect you may be referring to my recent thread about male cherry barb aggression. I also got them because I had read they are peaceful community fish. My personal experience with them has shown them to be generally peaceful. However both males I have were aggressive when they were in a tank with just 2 or 3 females. Since I've put all the cherry barbs together the level of aggression has been greatly reduced; to a level I would say is non-existent. So maybe it's a matter of keeping the right number of fish with the right male/female ratio.

Yes, there is contradictory information out there. I've noticed the same thing. But fishkeeping is not a science. As far as I know there aren't scientists out there studying the behavior of fish species in the home aquaria. Most of what we read and hear is based on anecdotal evidence and as such we need take it with a grain of salt. I tend to look at multiple sources of information and then try combine those into a single big picture. And also remember that individual fish have their own "personalities" plus there are a great many other factors that affect behavior that it is difficult to say with any certainty how a particular species behaves all the time. We just have to take what others have reported and try to make our own sense of it.
 
Peaceful is in the eye of the beholder. All male fish will fight for the right to breed. Some are just more aggressive at it. Keep all male fish together with no females and the aggression really drops. Keep tons of females with a few males and the aggression is limited as well.
 
^ keep one male and a bunch of females, and he dies an overworked but happy little fellow.
 
I would recommend a bigger tank jut because they run around and chase each other especially when you have more males then females. Sometime the chasing gets out of hand and there are aggression problems. If you do put them in a ten gallon, I would reccomend adding a lot of plants to break up the view and create more territories for them.

Marinemom
 
NickD said:
Yes, there is contradictory information out there. I've noticed the same thing. But fishkeeping is not a science. As far as I know there aren't scientists out there studying the behavior of fish species in the home aquaria. Most of what we read and hear is based on anecdotal evidence and as such we need take it with a grain of salt. I tend to look at multiple sources of information and then try combine those into a single big picture. And also remember that individual fish have their own "personalities" plus there are a great many other factors that affect behavior that it is difficult to say with any certainty how a particular species behaves all the time. We just have to take what others have reported and try to make our own sense of it.
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That is what I have done with my list. Since, however, this list also is representative of the stocking people on this board recommend, and people here have had experience with cherry barbs whereas I have not, I have to ask, since ultimately I trust the people on this board to have a fish's best interests in mind. If cherry barbs can thrive in 10 gallons given certain conditions, they will stay on the list. However, I will probably put a note about male to female ration and/or breaking up territories.
 
SchizotypalVamp said:
However, I will probably put a note about male to female ration and/or breaking up territories.
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They can be very lively and use my whole 20L with their sweeping chases, but I guess they might be okay in a 10 gallon, too. As far as male/female ratio goes, I heard a lot of opinions, but not really much evidence about what this opinion is based on. Few people really try out different ratios and compare the results. At the moment, I would say that the only valid statement is: Have more than one male. My ratio of 4 males to one female works nicely. And this is corroborated nicely by Nick's observation.
 
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