Could you put a barb and pleco in the same tank?

U

UnsanePyro

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Oct 30, 2005
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Just wondering if you could or not.

I've been trying to figure out what I want for fish and what will work well together, and I really like the look of Tiger Barbs (what I have found available locally so far) but have read that they can be aggresive with slower fish. Would a Pleco be considered a slower fish?

I was planning on some Neon Tetras, Clown Loaches, a Pleco or two, and the Tiger Barb, if they could all fit, and get along together. Could they?

They all seem to like a similar pH level and temperature, and be considered peaceful (except for the Barb).

I'm hoping to get at least a 30 gallon tank, maybe as large as 50 gallons. It will be my first tank, and I'm not sure about having live plants or not, I need to look into it farther.
 
Yes the barbs can be with plecos, I have had many barbs with mine. Barbs will be less nippy if they are kept in large groups.
 
Awesome, that's good to know.

I was planning on keeping at least a pair of every fish so there isn't a lonely one, and I believe the Tetras and Loaches are supposed to be in groups anyways.

Would say, 5 Neon Tetras, 3 Clown Loaches, 3 Tiger Barbs, 1-2 Plecos be too much for a 30 gallon? 50 gallon? I should really re-read that sticky about the whole inch/gallon rule, its problems, and different formulas and figure it out.
 
The fish could all go together if you had a larger tank. Clown loaches would eventually need a bigger tank, and common plecos can easily get 18+ inches. For a 30g tank, I would go for a bristlenose pleco, or one of the smaller species. The tiger barbs are schooling fish, so I would get 6 or more of those. Not sure if there would be conflicts with the neons.
 
Even the smaller plecos are huge waste producers, I would not put more than one (even the smaller ones) in a 30g tank, unless they would be the only fish!! I think the barbs would be too nippy for the neons in such a small group. If they would get along (hopefully someone else can chime in on that) I would get 6 neons and maybe 8 barbs and a small pleco.
 
I wouldn't mix neons and tiger barbs--the neons will be stressed and chased constantly. The pleco and the clowns aren't really great in small tanks, and plecos are very territorial--in a 30, you'll end up with one in the long run anyway.

I'd go with 5-6 barbs, 2 bristlenose (male/female if possible), and maybe some smaller loaches. If you can get the biger tank, a pair of clown might work--they are slow growers, and will school with the barbs.
 
Are you saying that in a larger (50 gallon?) tank, I could go with 5-6 barbs, 2 bristlenose, and 2 clown loaches comfortably?
 
For quite some time, yes. The clowns will eventually outgrow the tank, but they'll be comfortable in that tank for several years. A few more barbs would work as well--the problem will be that not many other fish will be compatible with barbs. JMO, but barbs tend to be obnoxious to other fish, and do best with their own kind, or a few tough, armoured fish capable of defending themselves.
 
Maybe I'll just ditch the Barb altogether. It seems like it will become hard to get other fish in the future or even just finding them in the first place.

The clown/tetra/pleco's would be alright together?
 
Yep. I'd still avoid the clowns in the smaller setup, though there are a number of other loaches that are very attractive and will stay appropriately sized for their entire life. With neons and bristlenose, you could easily add a couple other fish to a 30--maybe a pair of rams or apistogrammas, or some livebearers for a splash of color.
 
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