stocking 30g tank with semi-aggressive fish?

Question

I need help on stocking my cycled 30g long tank. I'm doing a fishless cycle. I want to stock it with semi-aggressive fish because I want to learn how to take care of them like I learned how to take care of my guppies, platies, and CAE. I was thinking something along the lines of tiger barbs.... Any suggestions? If needed I will provide more info.

I'm not thinking about any angels or cichlids that's for later in life.... when I move out of the house lol. I'm only thinking about barbs, but NO cichlids... My LPS don't carry that many.....

Answer 1

7 Tiger Barbs would be great, possibly with two or three pairs of Tanganyikan Shell Dwelling Cichlids (Mulies, Caudopunktatus, Ocellotus, and Brevis are all great choices). You could also consider a pair of South American Dwarf Cichlids like Rams, Apistos, or the African Kribensis. If you think you might be interested in any of those, let me know and I'll provide some more info... Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

EDIT: First, do NOT put Tiger Barbs in with Angelfish... the Angles will be sporting shredded fins within days. Second, Angelfish are EXTREMELY tall, often more than a foot tall (their dorsal fins are usually more than three inches), so they are far better suited for tall tanks (tanks over 16 inches tall), not long tanks. If they are kept in tanks that are too shallow, they often become VERY stressed...

EDIT 2: If you don't want Cichlids, Tiger Barbs and some Pictus Catfish would make an AMAZING tank. Pictus reach about 4 inches and are social, so you should keep at least 5 in your tank... 7 Tiger Barbs and 5 Pictus would provide great contrast and activity, which would be further complemented by plants and driftwood.

Answer 2

Try a line of rams ( ram cichlids) or kribensis cichleds (forgot how to spell them!!!), they are cichlids but they are not really agressive. They are smaller compared to the others, and cheaper depending on what breed. In a 30 gallon tank, you could get quite a few, and some hiding places, like driftwood! They all live close to the bottom of the tank, so you could also put some barbs inside. If your willing to spend some time and money go for denesoni (red-faced barbs) they are pretty rare and look super nice. The grow pretty fast and look very very good. I had a few but they died after 8 years and almost a foot in length. You could put other barbs, as well. Hope your tank works out well!

Answer 3

Another good fish to try would be Florida Flag Fish. They are very interesting. Like tiger barbs they can be aggressive towards some fish but not others. A planted tank can help tone things down. If given the chance they will school with their own kind. In my experience they also do well in pairs, spawning somewhat frequently. As an added bonus, these guys will eat absolutely every speck of algae in the tank - even the dreaded hair algae!

Answer 4

12?? 1"... evidentally they are only babies... Red Bellies get to a decent size and having 12 in 30g just wouldn't work... It's more reasonable to have 12 of these guys in a 180g. I'd stick with something a lot smaller than the Piranhas. The Loaches in 30g, i'd go about 8-10 altogether. 5 of the Khulie, 5 of the Dojo's and then add some smaller fish. Definently not the Red Bellies.

Answer 5

I Just Changed From Pretty Fish To Look At To Fish That Like To Eat Pretty Fish, If I WaS You i Would Go With Some Ciclids, I Have A 55 Gallon With A Oscar.


Ok No Ciclids, I Had SOme Blue Paradise Fish They Are Agressive And Have Personality, Look Into Them And Out Gouriamai Specis.

Answer 6

well the only semi aggressive fish that ik is the Angel fish. only get a couple because they could fight if there is a lot of them. thats the only semi aggressive fish that i know. I dont think barbs are semi aggressive but they are fin nippers.