Another stupid question...

Inga

Hi everyone, I will apologize ahead if this is a stupid question but I really don't know the answer. I am seeing a lot of threads about peoples fish breeding, having babies etc... I was wondering, do you have to always have even numbers of fish? How do you know how they will pair off or even if they will pair off? I do not want a tank full of babies. I also keep hearing that some species can become aggressive when mating. I don't want anyone mating, is there a way to prevent it other then only having one of each kind of fish? How do you handle that in species that prefer to school, like Tiger Barbs?

TexasTanker

I know nothing of tiger barbs. BUT I let it all just happen. I have Gold Gouarmi and quite a few danio that will eat just about any fry or eggs. That keeps numbers down. I do have a handfull of mystery fry that have popped up at a rate of one or two every couple weeks. They're smart and quick and I have the space, so I don't fuss with it.

A lot of people know how to curb mating by maintaining less than peak mating conditions, segregating the sexes, not providing ideal nesting spots, etc.

It's not like they're going to multiply like tribbles. The fry and eggs are decidedly a food source until you intervene.

willow

it's not a sure thing that you'll become over run,
my firemouths are breeding at the moment,and out of all the eggs 6 have survived,
i have live bearers too,and i only have a few baby fry,they get eaten by the other fish,
unless i really wanted to up the survival rate and provide the perfect breeding requirements,
like saving the fy in nets or setting up breeding tanks,i don't think you'll
have a problem.
you can have male only tanks,like with guppys,platys,or any male,they only really
become agressive when you add a female to the soup i think.

Inga

Ok, Thanks. I just envisioned my tank being full of little Tiger Barbs. I had an experience with my room-mates tank many long years ago and we had so many Banded Convicts, we didn't know where to go with them. We ended up selling them back to the LFS. Now days, not as many stores will buy back fish. I don't want to have that issue.

I will have to learn a lot more before I can tell the difference in sexes of fish. My barbs all look for the most part, the same. Maybe a little size difference. Also, they scoot around the tank pretty quickly it is hard for my old eyes to get a good focus on them to identify them from the others. lol

willow

hi
check out the colour on the nose,males is red i think.
google Tiger Barb and pull up images,you should get a clear pictuer of the males,
chichlids breed as quick as you look at them

jclee

A lot of filters will also suck up fry, unless you're actively doing something to prevent it. For most species, it's rare that they would breed and the fry would survive unless you actively make changes to the environment to help those things along. (Live bearers are often an exception, but as Willow said, they'll often get picked off by other community fish.)

Byron

We have fish profiles on this site, and while not all tropical fish are there, many are, including the Tiger Barb. The link is second from the left in the blue bar across the top, or you can click on the fish name in any post if it is shaded [as in the previous sentence].

If you look at the profile of this fish, you will see the answer to your two questions.

Byron.

Inga

Hm, based on that, I think I have mostly males. I still have a novice eye so to me, they all look pretty much alike. A few are a little less vibrant in color so I am assuming they are girls.

Any idea which species of fish is black and yellow stripes, streamline in appearance and only gets about 5 inches long? A friend of mine has a fish that she wants me to take that looks like that. She has no idea what kind of fish it is. It was listed as semi-aggressive at the petshop.

I am glad to find out my tank won't be over run by babies.

Byron

Does she not have some name for it, like the name it had when she bought it? She should remember that if she remembers it is 5 inches and semi-aggressive. I'd be careful about acquiring "unknown" fish, you could be getting a real monster.

bones14

Totally agree with that.Did you ask why she wants to get rid of it?