Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya) Species Profile & Care Guide
Cherry barbs are one of the most sought after barb species to keep in a community aquarium as it is peaceful, hardy and non-demanding and is not aggressive or nippy.
They do, however, require stable water conditions and will need some places to hide out in as they can be timid sometimes.
The cherry barb hosts beautiful bright brownish-red colouring, a dark horizontal stripe along their body, and the colour of the fins' colour varies from yellowish to red.
Cherry Barbs have a completely different body shape than other barb species; they have more streamlined, skinny bodies than thicker and taller midsections.
| Quick Facts | |
| Scientific Name | Puntius titteya |
| Other Names | Red Barb |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Puntius |
| Origins | Sri Lanka |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom - Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Conditions | |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| Temperature | 70 - 80 ℉ (21.1 - 26.7 ℃) |
| PH | 7.2 - 7.5 |
| GH | 8 - 16 |
| KH | 4 - 7 |
| TDS | 180 - 250 |
Natural Habitat of the Cherry Barb
Cherry Barbs are native to the freshwater ponds of Sri Lanka.
The South-West areas such as Kelani and Nilwala river valleys, where they live in shadowed surroundings, are due to the thick tree cover where very little light reaches the water surface.
They can be found in shallow, small, and slow-moving rivers and streams with a silt and sandy substrate bottom with a layer of leaves and tree branches.
Other Barbs of interest
Diet
Cherry barbs will happily accept most types of food. They can be given flakes or other forms of dried food suitable for tropical fish.
It is also advisable to supplement their diet with occasional treats in vegetables, daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp, plankton or similar.
Sexing the Cherry Barb
Male Cherry barbs are generally more slender, while the females tend to have fuller bodies. The male is also more significant than the female and much more vibrant in colour, whereas the female is more of a dull orange.
Breeding the Cherry Barb
Cherry barbs are extremely easy to breed and will often spawn as long as you have a dimly lit aquarium, slightly acidic water and plenty of plants because that is where they will scatter their eggs.
A pair will lay 200-300 eggs.
Once the barbs have laid their eggs, it is essential to remove the parents from the tank or remove the eggs from the aquarium to prevent them from predating on the eggs.
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