more barbs

The tank appears empty, and its not just because I cut the rotala short and the j ferns and aponos haven't grown up yet. Not many fishes for the tank size. I got a few more cherry barb females, making a total of eleven. Don't have quarantine space for so many so took a risk and just introduced them to the tank. Brought home in a cooler so they wouldn't suffer from the heat of my car, then floated the bags ten minutes to let temperature equal, then every ten minutes twice, added some tank water to the bag, final step was to dump the bag into a bucket, net the fishes out into the tank (so the store water doesn't go into the home aquarium). They were very pale when first floated, but after I added the first bit of fresh tank water, started to color up already.

They show no clamped fins, no shyness or hiding, appear to be adjusting well- tank lights off for the rest of the day. I had forgotten how handsome my female barbs are

until saw them in contrast to the newcomers. I hadn't realized how red-orange their fins are- is it because they're more mature, or a display they put on for the newcomers. Whose fins are so pale as to look clear, I hope they color up soon when feel at ease.

Side note- a week ago when I rinsed out the prefilter sponge the fish must have really felt a difference in water quality. They started flirting with each other and I definitely saw spawning behavior- females laying eggs in the rotala stems. I bet the kuhli loaches ate them.