Tiger barb

Care at a glance

The tiger barb is a cheeky, constantly moving barb that catches the eye at once with its orange fins and four black bands. It has a reputation as a fin nipper, and it is deserved — but the behaviour depends heavily on group size. In a decent school they take it out on each other; with just a handful, the rest of the tank becomes the target.

So never combine it with long-finned or slow-moving fish, and choose tankmates that can hold their own. Beyond that it is a rewarding, hardy fish that asks little of the water and greedily eats whatever you offer. Open swimming space along the full length matters more than a densely planted layout.

Good to know

• Nips long fins

Best not combined with

• Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi
• GuppyPoecilia reticulata
• BettaBetta splendens
• AngelfishPterophyllum scalare
• Discus (common)Symphysodon aequifasciatus
• Heckel discusSymphysodon discus
• Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster lalius
• Threadfin rainbowfishIriatherina werneri
• Ocellate river stingrayPotamotrygon motoro
• Altum angelfishPterophyllum altum

Related species

• Cherry barbPuntius titteya
• KribensisPelvicachromis pulcher
• Black ruby barbPethia nigrofasciata
• Flag cichlidMesonauta festivus
• Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster lalius
• Ram cichlidMikrogeophagus ramirezi