Cherry barb
Puntius titteya
FishFreshwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Minimum tank
- 60 L
- Maximum size
- 5 cm
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Group size
- ≥ 6
- Diet
- Omnivore
Care at a glance
The cherry barb is the quiet exception in a family better known for busy, cheeky fish. It stays small, leaves fins alone and therefore fits into a community tank where a tiger barb would cause trouble.
Displaying males colour up deep cherry red; females stay brownish and are more fully built. That colour only really comes out in a tank with a dark substrate, plenty of planting and subdued light — in a bare, brightly lit tank it stays pale and shy. Keep rather more females than males, and the courtship stays fun to watch instead of exhausting for the fish.
Related species
Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.
In the BlubHub app you link your inhabitants to this database and see the care info next to your own water parameters.