Are you looking online for information on how to take care of tiger barbs, but you don't know whether or not to trust what you read? Or are you considering buying a fish but you don't know exactly which one? Stop worrying and read here, this article contains the most important information on how to care for the tiger barbel, including: diet, compatibility with other fish and much more.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Get to know the Tiger Beard
Step 1. Get to know your fish
Physically, the tiger barbel grows up to 7cm in length and has three clearly visible stripes running down vertically on its hips. Its life expectancy is around 4-6 years.
Method 2 of 5: Proper Accommodation in the Aquarium
Step 1. Store your tiger barbs in an appropriately sized aquarium
A 75-liter aquarium is just enough for six tiger barbs (the larger the aquarium, the better). be careful! It is not recommended to keep fewer than six tiger barbs in an aquarium. They are aggressive fish and, if kept in smaller groups or in small aquariums, they become extremely dangerous to other fish.
Step 2. Use an aquarium heater
Being tropical fish, tiger barbs should be kept in aquariums with a water temperature of 21-25 degrees. In addition, in order to live in health, they must be kept in an aquarium with water recirculation (as well as any other fish or aquatic plant).
Step 3. Add some decorative elements
When breeding tiger barbs, it is always best to decorate your aquarium. Adding decorative elements and plants inside the aquarium makes the fish less shy and provides them with a place to hide.
Method 3 of 5: Compatibility with Other Fish
Step 1. Choose carefully the aquarium mates of your tiger barbs
They are rather aggressive fish and well-known "fin bites"!
- Bottom fish and not excessively long finned fish can be good companions for the tiger barbel. Larger fish, such as Bala shark, parrot cichlid, etc. are also fine.
- Among the fish not recommended we find: the danio pinnalunga, the scalare, the betta, the sailfin molly and any large fish that could devour it.
Method 4 of 5: Feeding the Tiger Beard
Step 1. Choose the right diet
Providing your tiger barb with a varied diet is the healthiest choice! Flake food, sea shrimp and sludge worms are just some of the recommended foods.
Method 5 of 5: Ambience in the Aquarium
Step 1. Get the tiger barbs to acclimate
For fish and crustaceans, the acclimatization process plays a fundamental role because it allows the animal to adapt to the water parameters.
- Allow each fish to acclimate for 15-30 minutes to get used to the water parameters.
- When the acclimatization process is over, using a net, gently remove the barbels from their bag (making sure that the water inside does not pour into the tank) and put them in the aquarium.
Advice
- They should be kept in groups of 6-10 specimens and in an aquarium with a capacity of at least 75 liters.
- The pH of the water should remain at 6.0 - 8.0.
- They should not be kept with long-finned fish.
- It would be best not to mix them with other fish at all.
- An excellent companion for the tiger barbel (assuming the aquarium is large) is the dwarf gourami.
Warnings
- It becomes aggressive when kept in a small aquarium.
- Circulate the water in the tank completely before buying barbel or any other fish.
