Tiger Barb

General information

These fish can be yellow, red or orange, they have  4 dark stripes and can reach 2.8 inches. To keep these fish in captivity, water pH should be between 6.0 and 8.0 and water temperature should range from 68ºF to 79ºF. The tank should have open areas for swimming, floating vegetation, driftwood roots, rocks and a sandy substrate. These fish can be kept in a community tank as long as its tankmates are of the same size like pelagic cyprinids and benthic cyprinids. They are quite energetic and like to bite the fins of their tankmates so they shouldn’t be kept with slow-moving and long finned species. Tiger barbs should be kept in groups of at least 6, keeping them in smaller groups will increase the likelihood of them bothering their tankmates. They should be kept in a tank of at least 30 gallons.

This species is omnivorous. In captivity, it can be fed with flakes, pellets, frozen and live foods.

Mature males are smaller and have a more intense color than females.

These fish are egg scatterers that have no parental care. After spawning, the adults should be separated from the eggs. The eggs hatch in 24 to 48 hours and the fry become free swimming 24 hours after hatching.

Green Tiger Barbs develop from Tiger Barbs, these can be found in Borneo, Sumatra and Malay Peninsula.

These fish like to nib on their tankmate’s fins.