 Salih Reis was around 30 years old when Oruç Reis died in 1518 during a battle against the Spaniards in Algeria.From 1518 onwards, he joined the fleet of Hızır Reis, who inherited the title of "Barbarossa" from his older brother, "Baba Oruç" (Father Aruj).In 1520 he went to Djerba together with Hızır Reis and Turgut Reis, and later that year assaulted Bône, which was under Spanish control.