Tiger Barbs: Stop the Nipping Now!

Tiger barbs are among the most beautiful freshwater tropical fish for the home aquarium. Because of their tendency to become aggressive with other fish if not properly cared for, they are often rejected by new aquarists. Contrary to their reputation, tiger barbs are actually an ideal choice for a new aquarium hobbyist: when properly cared for, they are lively exciting, and visually stunning additions to any fish tank.

One of the tiger barb's most annoying habits is its tendency to nip at the fins of other fish. For this reason, it is sometimes recommended that they not be kept in tanks with any long-finned tankmates or any fish that are unable to adequately defend themselves. However, tiger barbs actually quite capable of living peacefully with other fish, as long as they are kept in schools of more than eight individuals.

The secret to raising peaceful, non-nipping tiger barbs lies in understanding their social structure. Like more advanced animals, such as lions and wolves, wild tiger barbs hunt in groups that are kept in check by a natural hierarchy. In the wild, large schools of tiger barbs band together socially and establish a pecking order to determine who eats first when food is obtained.

In small groups, such as those seen in home aquariums, tiger barbs will attempt to establish their dominance over their tankmates, regardless of species, by nipping at their fins. This is a tiger barb's casual way of letting a tankmate know that he is stronger. Unfortunately, with the exception of a few species, the tankmates usually don't understand this communication, and do not learn to honor the pecking order that the barb is trying to establish. The tiger barb will usually continue to nip at his tank-mate's fins, often until the other fish dies.

In groups of eight or more individuals, tiger barbs are given sufficient rivalry from tankmates of the same species. Instead of trying to establish dominance over other tankmates who may not understand, the barbs will gladly harass each other, and will more or less leave other species alone.

Tiger barbs also feel less of a need to compete if given sufficient space. In a small aquarium, tiger barbs become more aggressive with each other and with other species, because there is less space to go around. This, in turn, leads the barb to assume that there is little food or few resources to share, leading to hyper-aggressive behaviors. In a large tank, ideally twenty gallons or more, the tiger barb will feel less of a need to compete with its tankmates.

Enjoying the beauty and personality of tiger barbs doesn't have to mean surrendering your angelfish and gouramis. With adequate space, sufficient food, and plenty of same-species tankmates, it can actually be an ideal and enjoyable addition to the home aquarium.