Cherry barbs (Puntius titteya) are small, vibrant freshwater fish native to Sri Lanka, highly favoured in the aquarium hobby for their peaceful nature and striking red colouration. They are considered an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced keepers due to their hardiness and adaptability.
Key Characteristics
Appearance: Males are famous for their deep, bright cherry-red colour, which intensifies during spawning. Females are typically more subdued, with tan or orange-brown bodies and a more pronounced dark horizontal stripe.
Size: They are relatively small, typically reaching about 5 cm (2 inches) in length.
Lifespan: With proper care, they live between 4 to 7 years.
Social Behaviour: Unlike many other barbs, they are very peaceful and do not tend to nip fins. They should be kept in schools of at least 5–6 individuals to reduce stress and encourage natural behaviour.
Aquarium Care Requirements
Cherry barbs thrive in environments that mimic their natural shaded forest streams.
Tank Size: A minimum of 60–75 litres (15–20 gallons) is recommended to provide enough swimming space for a school.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 23°C to 27°C (73°F to 81°F).
pH: 6.0 to 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral is preferred).
Hardness: 4 to 15 dKH.
Environment: They prefer heavily planted tanks with plenty of hiding spots like driftwood and rocks. Using a dark substrate can help their red colours "pop" more vividly.
Diet: As omnivores, they accept a wide variety of foods including high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen or live treats like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Tank Mates
They are excellent community fish and get along well with other peaceful species such as:
Tetras (e.g., Neon or Buenos Aires Tetras).
Other peaceful barbs (e.g., Rosy or Black Ruby Barbs).
Livebearers like Guppies and Swordtails.
Bottom dwellers like Corydoras and peaceful Loaches.
Breeding
Cherry barbs are egg scatterers and are relatively easy to breed in captivity.
Setup: A separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop is recommended to protect the eggs.
Ratio: It is best to keep a ratio of two females to every one male to prevent the male from over-harassing a single female.
Parental Care: They do not provide parental care and will likely eat their own eggs if not removed shortly after spawning.
SKU: RBM
