Can cherry barbs be kept in pairs

Future Marine Biologist · 08-25-2011, 09:55 AM

I have done research on them but many sites contradict each other on if they school or not. In addition to that my father (a use to be fish hobbyist

) says they are aggresive fish. Can anyone clear this up for me.

Nitlon · 08-25-2011, 06:27 PM

At least in my experience, barbs don't really "school" the way tetras or danios do. Instead, they just tend to hang out in a group bickering among themselves.

The usual recommendation for them is to keep them in big groups - at least 4 - 6. When they're kept in big enough groups, they tend to keep their mild aggression and nipping to their own species rather than bother other fish in the tank. With only two or three, though, they might start nipping at their tankmates. That's probably why websites have conflicting information on them - their aggression varies with the number of individuals you have.

Future Marine Biologist · 08-25-2011, 06:43 PM

Thanks, would you still consider them community fish. Also have you ever kept cherry barbs and seen them being aggresive, if so how many did you or do you have.

automatic-hydromatic · 08-25-2011, 07:30 PM

I have 2 females and 2 males in my 30 gallon community, and they're some of the most docile fish in the tank, lol

they don't really school though. you might catch the two males or the two females kind of "hanging out" together every once in a while, but it's far from schooling. not like the Danios in the same tank do

one of the females, hanging out under a piece of wood, like her and the other female normally do

Future Marine Biologist · 08-25-2011, 08:11 PM

Their such nice fish. Great photo too.

holly12 · 08-27-2011, 07:51 PM

It's best to keep them in groups. They are happier that way and tend to 'shoal' - hang out in a large, loose group but kinda' do their own thing. Some will school. It keeps them happier being in groups and keeps them less stressed and therefore healthier.

08-25-2011, 09:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Future Marine Biologist Future Marine Biologist's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 144 Name: Joseph Thomas (I not gonna tell you my last name.) Location: I aint gonna tell you! Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 23 Times Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	Can cherry barbs be kept in pairs I have done research on them but many sites contradict each other on if they school or not. In addition to that my father (a use to be fish hobbyist ) says they are aggresive fish. Can anyone clear this up for me. __________________ Ha Ha Ha, Ha Ha Ha, Haaa... I don`t get it

08-25-2011, 06:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nitlon Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 43 Name: Hannah Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 19 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Can cherry barbs be kept in pairs At least in my experience, barbs don't really "school" the way tetras or danios do. Instead, they just tend to hang out in a group bickering among themselves. The usual recommendation for them is to keep them in big groups - at least 4 - 6. When they're kept in big enough groups, they tend to keep their mild aggression and nipping to their own species rather than bother other fish in the tank. With only two or three, though, they might start nipping at their tankmates. That's probably why websites have conflicting information on them - their aggression varies with the number of individuals you have. __________________ Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose. - Douglas Adams

08-25-2011, 06:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Future Marine Biologist Future Marine Biologist's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 144 Name: Joseph Thomas (I not gonna tell you my last name.) Location: I aint gonna tell you! Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 23 Times Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Can cherry barbs be kept in pairs Thanks, would you still consider them community fish. Also have you ever kept cherry barbs and seen them being aggresive, if so how many did you or do you have. __________________ Ha Ha Ha, Ha Ha Ha, Haaa... I don`t get it

08-25-2011, 07:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
automatic-hydromatic unda da sea automatic-hydromatic's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,009 Name: Travis Location: Lake City, Florida Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 140 Times Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 207 Times in 184 Posts	Re: Can cherry barbs be kept in pairs I have 2 females and 2 males in my 30 gallon community, and they're some of the most docile fish in the tank, lol they don't really school though. you might catch the two males or the two females kind of "hanging out" together every once in a while, but it's far from schooling. not like the Danios in the same tank do one of the females, hanging out under a piece of wood, like her and the other female normally do __________________ My 30 gallon planted freshwater - CONSTANTLY CHANGING Last edited by automatic-hydromatic : 08-25-2011 at 07:37 PM.

08-25-2011, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Future Marine Biologist Future Marine Biologist's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 144 Name: Joseph Thomas (I not gonna tell you my last name.) Location: I aint gonna tell you! Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 23 Times Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Can cherry barbs be kept in pairs Their such nice fish. Great photo too. __________________ Ha Ha Ha, Ha Ha Ha, Haaa... I don`t get it

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08-27-2011, 07:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Can cherry barbs be kept in pairs It's best to keep them in groups. They are happier that way and tend to 'shoal' - hang out in a large, loose group but kinda' do their own thing. Some will school. It keeps them happier being in groups and keeps them less stressed and therefore healthier. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

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