Cherry Barb (Barbus titteya or Puntius titteya)

Common Name:

Cherry Barb.

Scientific Name:

Barbus titteya or Puntius titteya.

Family:

Cyprinidae.

Distribution:

Sri Lanka.

Size:

1.5-2inches (4-5cm).

Diet:

Omnivorous, will accept almost all prepared tropical fish food. Also except many fresh vegetables, recommended to vary their diet and to supplement with Daphnia,Plankton, Brine Shrimp and Bloodworm.

Water Temperature:

Ideally 74-79 degrees Fahrenheit (23-26 Centigrade).

Water Chemistry:

Ideally fairly soft to medium hard 4dH to 15dH.

pH:

Ideally 6.5-7.5 (They prefer slightly acidic to neutral water). Like many fish which are tank bred, they can be acclimatized to a pH slightly outside this range if carried out slowly and carefully.

Life Span:

Average 4 years with 5-7 being documented.

Housing:

Minimum tank size of 20gallons. They prefer densely planted tanks with some clear swimming space. They will nibble on the plants and will perform light algae cleanup. They prefer a good strong current, so good filtration is essential. They favour plants that grow up and cover the surface and are bushy enough to swim in and through.

Sexing:

Males are the brighter cherry red colour and more slender than the female. Females are more faded with fuller bodies and are orangey clay coloured. The males are generally larger than the female. Males and females have a dark stripe that runs through their body horizontally; this is more prominent on the lighter females.

Breeding:

During spawning time the male turns an even more brilliant shade of red. They are egg scatterers and are most likely to eat their own eggs if left in the breeding tank. Many breeders increase the fry's likelihood of success in the main tank by having lots of java moss; the Barbs will favour it to scatter their eggs and they, as well as other predators, will have more difficulty getting to the young fry. Eggs will hatch approximately 24 hours after being laid.

Requirements:

Cherry Barbs are a shoaling fish with clear social hierarchy, it is essential they are kept in groups of 6 or more. They do not form tight schools like others of the barb genus or tetras but they do spend their day playing with their own kind.

Behaviour:

They are competitive with each other but never damaging. Other benefits of having groups are when two males come together to challenge for a higher place in the hierarchy. The perform a dance where the erect their fins and encircle each other (like two prize fighters checking each other out), they also increase their cherry colour. Aggression rarely ensues with the victor chasing the loser away. They are extremely peaceful to other tank mates favouring loose shoals of their own kind. They are extremely lively and great fun to watch. They are ideal peaceful community fish and make excellent dither fish for loaches

Tank levels:

Most literature specifies middle of the tank, my Cherry Barbs occupy the whole tank, if there are bushy plants there, the Cherry Barbs will be there as well.

Ease of keeping:

Excellent beginners fish, hardy, fun and colourful, makes an excellent addition to any planted peaceful aquarium.

Ideal Tank Mates:

Any peaceful community fish that are not large enough to eat them, they are small fish and could fall prey to larger predators. If kept in shoals of 6 and more, can happily co-exist with Bettas, Danios, Plecos, Corydoras, Loaches, and Rainbows. Beware keeping them with other more nippy members of the Barb family,like Tiger Barbs

Miscellaneous:

Cherry Barbs are almost completely extinct in the wild, but with ease of captive breeding is doing well in the hobby.

Photo Credit:

Photo supplied courtesy and ^©Quagaar.