Help needed for a new to aquariums dude

[garryfrancislewis]

hello i just got into aquariums and set up a 5 gallon tank approximately H12inxw7inxL7in (it is hexagonal). I planted it with live plants and let it sit for three weeks and am keeping track of the water. All this seems to be doing well. I put 5 Tiger barbs into the tank 10 days ago. Four are approx. 0.75cm and one is approx.1.0cm. The first 2 days the largest did nothing but chase the others into the corner. The cornered ones colors stayed muted while the bossy one stayed in brilliant color. Then all five started hanging out together and everything seemed harmonious . Now for the past 48 hours the bigger of the 5 is back to being a terrorist and the other 4 are back in dull color and hiding in the corner. What should I do?

[Lady Hobbs]

I messed up big time!

Since this topic ended up being more discussion than Introduction, I decided to move it to a discussion thread. In doing so, your original thread is all that moved and the comments from everyone deleted. So, so sorry everyone.

If you wish to post again here, please do and I apologize to gary!!!!


Everyone consensus is that your tank is much too small for tiger barbs.

[Rue]

...I remember we suggested that tiger barbs do best in schools (say 6 fish) and need quite a bit of room (say ~3 g per barb) and that a betta would be a good choice for his tank...

...or 2-3 female bettas, maybe 3 pygmy cories for the bottom...

Was there more?

[CAF]

LOL...

I was saying that as everone else had mentioned Tigers are much too large for your tank.

I would recommend one of the following:

Guppies
Endlers
Porthole Livebearers
Heterandia formosa
or other small livebearers

1 Male Betta

White Cloud Minnow

Smaller Tetras such as, Neons, Blue Neons, Green Neons, Black Neons, etc.

Shrimp any species, just do a single species however.

There are potentially an unlimited number of things you can do, you are only limited by the size of the fish, number of fish, and your imagination.

[kimmers318]

Don't forget too that letting a tank sit for 3 weeks does not cycle it.....add to that seriously overstocking it and you will soon be losing those barbs if you don't get them out of there.