Neon tetras or Tiger Barbs??
I have a 14 gallon fish aquarium that I am getting started and wanted to know if neon tetras or barb would be better? Are neon tetras active like barbs and do they play contained by the bubbles of the air stone? I think I might get a few barb because tetras are so small. What do you guys think? How many barbs could I put within the tank?
I agree beside Gary, go with the Neon Tetras. Tiger Barbs grow too big for a 14 gallon tank and will be too alive.
Get a school of 5-15 Neon Tetras, they'll appreciate the large # of themselves.
Tiger barb are active, but they grow to 3 inches. And need to have a institution of at least 6. Thats too many for a tank that small. If you hold any less, barbs are notorious fin nippers. So theres a fate that even if you got a small group, theyd pick and pick at each other and theyd become stressed. And whether you dont fix that, the stressed fish will die.
Neons can be delicate, but stay smaller. They also prefer a group of at least 6. Although they arent as active as the barb, theyd be more suited for your tank. Because they max around 1.5 inches.
Answers: If you are a beginner, I'd stick to the Tiger Barb, because they are very hardy and dynamic. Be sure that they are in a school of at most minuscule six, or they will be aggressive and will nip and hurt each other. Neon tetras may be more colorful, but they are delicate and require frequent water change. They are also a bit more sensitive to sudden changes than the Tiger Barbs. In a tank that size, If you would have lone Tiger barbs, I'd go for 8-10. If you want tankmates, for a tank of that size, I would recommend some brisk & hardy fish of the same size. In the end, I'd have six Tiger barb, and 4 or 5 Zebra Danios.
But before you go buying any fish, you should type "Aquarium Cycling" in Google, and study, because the cycle is intensely important.
P.S. Some people say that Tigers grow to 3 inches. That's normally not true. They may be able to reach that size, but it is uncommon. In an aquarium, they generally reach about 2 inches.
My 15 gallon tank next to a pair of Paradise fish and six Tiger Barbs on November 8 2006, one week before giving away:
http://flickr.com/photos/32630350(a)N07/30...
Go with the neon tetras. Your reservoir is kind of small for a school of tiger barbs, and in recent times one or a few tiger barbs won't do well.
Yes, neons are very alive and I think you'll enjoy them. Get about 9 or 10 of them.
depending if u get barb u could get about 3.i have 5 barb and 10 neon tetras in a 30 gallon tank and if i be u i would get tetras because there nice and barbs are really aggresive and usally nip fins of other fish. u could get hold of about 7 tetras in a 14g
