Tiger Barbs and Bottom Dwellers

**samuel1995** · 07-12-2012, 12:51 AM

Which bottom dweller fishes are compatible with my Tiger Barbs?

**Azurescriber** · 07-12-2012, 01:08 AM

How many barbs do you have?

What are the dimensions of your tank? Gallons?

Need to know what space you have before we can discuss stock! :)

**samuel1995** · 07-12-2012, 01:24 AM

3 tiger barbs in a 20 gallon tank with 24" x 12" x 16" dimensions

**Azurescriber** · 07-12-2012, 01:39 AM

They will probably nip everything until they are in a proper school...6+. They are very aggressive unless their attention is taken up by others of their own species.

I had three in a tank with a cory once...harassed the cory like crazy.

**ScottishFish** · 07-12-2012, 10:16 AM

The only bottom dwellers id recommend for a 20G would be khuli loaches, 8 of them. However if you own a 20G with just 3 tiger barbs I doubt you do much research before buying anything. Google is a God send. Use It.

Read up on cycling your tank as I doubt it is cycled, until you've done this then don't even consider bottom dwellers

**samuel1995** · 07-12-2012, 07:20 PM

Considering that I did use Google, my tank was cycled before I purchased my fish of course. I also bought my 3 Tiger Barbs less than a week ago, which is the reason I am waiting to purchase more because according to Google, I should only introuduce three fish to a tank at a time and wait at least a week before adding more.

**Goes to 11!** · 07-12-2012, 08:33 PM

I am glad to hear that you are aware of and use Google, You have no idea how apparently rare that is lol.

1. Just to clarify things for us, Can you tell us a bit about your process when you cycled the tank.

2. Are your water parameters holding steady since your fish were added and what are you testing with?

**Azurescriber** · 07-13-2012, 12:27 AM

Assuming everything is good in your tank, cycled, a proper school of barbs, etc, then I would say that a school of small cories would be ok. It's longer than tall, which will give them room to swim and spread out. A small pleco might work, they are nocturnal. Kuhlis, certainly. Maybe a solitary GBR if you have hiding spaces...I'm not an expert on rams, might need more google for that one. :)

It mostly depends on your barbs. If they keep their harassmment to themselves, then you can have anything size-appropriate to your tank, without flowing fins. Some people have great luck with them, some don't.

You would be stocked near or at capacity with a school of cories and a school of barbs. What is your filtration?