mrsmuffin

Would a small school of 3 cherry barbs be okay in a community tank, or would 6 really be that much better. I am pushing my stocking limits and I really don't want to push them TOO far...

Edit: to clarify my question - would just 3 of them be okay, or do they really need a larger school?

MissMTS

How big is your tank and what fish do you currently have in there? Six would be ideal. I would do at least 4 (1 male and 3 female). If your tank cannot handle the bioload, I would not reccomend it though.

mrsmuffin

It is a 30 gallon long and I have it right at 30" of fish (not counting the few platy fry that somehow survived that are about to move out!) Here is my stock:

1 BN Pleco
6 Neon Tetras
6 Cardinal Tetras
3 Platy
1 Dwarf Gourami
4 Ghost Shrimp

I know I really shouldn't do it, but I am trying to get past my MTS craving without caving in and getting another tank right now. I AM diligent about doing 30-40% water changes every week... (like how I try to justify??)

langman

i had three albino CBs and they where fine i just added a fourth and they got kind of nippy i think i may have added a male to the tank.

Butters

I've read articles on the internet about keeping them in pairs (1M1F) and trios (1M2F) in community tanks and it works. personally, I like how my cherrys chase each other around and interact with each other when there are more of them. I think the middle level of your tank is pretty well stocked and you dont want your fish getting stressed becuase theres always other fice up in their face. Maybe you should look at getting a school of cories or some khulie loaches?

mrsmuffin

I love it when an old thread gets raised from the dead! I decided against the cherry barbs in my 30 gallon tank. I have, however introduced a school of 8 cherry barbs to my new 65 gallon.