Planning to add Neons, how many to get?

**Honey Badger 1** · 01-14-2013, 06:09 PM

They need to be the same exact fish. Both cherry and gold barbs are part of the Cyprinidae family, and puntius genus, but cherry barb's scientific species name is titteya and gold barbs scientific species name is semifaciolatus. Their family and genus are the same, so they should get along, but their species is different so they won't school.

**serbusfish** · 01-14-2013, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by 850R

Your fish would be far better off if instead of adding additional species you increased your 'schools'. This would be the preferable route to go, Low numbers such as 4 or 5 don't even count as a school and will not result in the behaviour they exhibit in actual school.

Instead you will get hiding, shy, stressed fish - Especially in the presence of gourami and cichlids.

Ok, well as I already have 10 neons they should be ok right? How about I add 2 or 3 more Pentazonas + the Bolivian Ram and forget the guppies and frogs?

**phatchuck** · 01-14-2013, 07:36 PM

Yeah, I have to agree with the last two posts. Like I mentioned, the Danios all seem to hang together, so what was said makes perfect sense. The Gold barbs usually cluster by the driftwood when they aren't greedily hunting for food on the bottom and the Cherrys are barely ever together at all. I really like the coloring of the Cherrys so I don't have a problem getting another 3 or 4. just another excuse to hit the pet store..... Thanks guys!

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-14-2013, 07:43 PM

My cherries are together all the time but really......how can they not be in a 29 gallon tank? LOL I have probably 14. I like them a lot and they are perfect Barbs for a 29 gallon. I have them with neon's, Harlequin rasbora and shrimp.

**icefreeze57** · 01-15-2013, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by serbusfish

Ok, well as I already have 10 neons they should be ok right? How about I add 2 or 3 more Pentazonas + the Bolivian Ram and forget the guppies and frogs?

DONT ANYTHING NEW!!! (i.e. Ram, Guppies, frogs etc)

You already have way to many things in your tank! Up the schools like I said before (okay your up to 10 neons, fix the other things and don't add more species, its not a good idea. If you actually care about your tanks you'll just up the schools when possible and then when thats done take it from there.

**serbusfish** · 01-15-2013, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by icefreeze57

DONT ANYTHING NEW!!! (i.e. Ram, Guppies, frogs etc)

You already have way to many things in your tank! Up the schools like I said before (okay your up to 10 neons, fix the other things and don't add more species, its not a good idea. If you actually care about your tanks you'll just up the schools when possible and then when thats done take it from there.

What are you talking about? There is no way my tank is overstocked (a lot of the time it looks half empty!) and my filter is more than adequate (it is actually for a 300 litre tank).

I want a single Ram + frogs as most of my current fish stay near the upper middle/top, I want these for the lower middle/bottom. I dont mind skipping the guppies, they were just idea after I saw a nice one in my LFS.

**ddavis1979** · 01-15-2013, 12:38 PM

I dont know if your Pentazona barbs are anything like tiger barbs, but my amano shrimp only lasted 1 week before the tigers tore them up and ate them.

**serbusfish** · 01-16-2013, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by ddavis1979

I dont know if your Pentazona barbs are anything like tiger barbs, but my amano shrimp only lasted 1 week before the tigers tore them up and ate them.

No Pentazona's are much shyer and dont nip fins or anything like that so fingers crossed the shrimp should be fine