Cherry barbs are one of the more popular variants of the barb, mainly due to their vibrant colour and their generally peaceful demeanor. A very good beginner barb they are generally peaceful within a community tank and are also a fairly easy fish to breed. Sadly, however, due to mass deforestation, pollution and over fishing, this fish is now on the ICUN red list and as a result all fish offered in the aquarium trade are captive bred in order to alleviate strain on the natural population.
Synonyms | Barbus titteya, Capoeta titteya |
Distribution | Sri Lanka: Kelani to the Nilwala Basins. All specimens offered for sale in the trade these days are captive-bred (see below). |
Sexual Dimorphism | Males with much deeper all over red body colour. Females plumper. |
Maximum Size | 5cm (2”) |
Water Parameters | Will acclimatise to a wide range of conditions. pH: 6.0-8.0, dH: up to 20 degrees. |
Temperature | 23-27 deg C (73-81 deg F) |
Compatibility | Community |
Lighting | No special requirements |
Housing
As mentioned, Cherry barbs are a community fish, best kept with its own kind as a mixed group of males and females will encourage the males colours to become even deeper. They like plenty of plant cover and gentle water circulation.
Feeding
Cherry barbs can be fed on a good quality flake / green flake. They will also happily accept micro pellets, and, along with the majority of fish will gladly eat frozen / fresh brine shrimp / mosquito larvae / daphnia.
Breeding
Set up a breeding tank with softwater and plenty of fine-leaved plants such as Cabomba, then add a conditioned pair of fish. During spawning the male will wrap himself around the female and fertilise eggs as they are released 3/4 at a time onto the leaves of the plants. It can be beneficial to have additional java moss on and in the substrate to catch any eggs that miss the leaves. The whole process generally takes around an hour and the fish can spawn upto and over 200 eggs in this time.
Once breeding is complete its highly recommended to remove the pair as they will actively predate on the eggs. After 24-48 hours the eggs will hatch, a further 48 hours later the fry will be free swimming – feed on infusoria / liquid fry food until they are large enough to accept freshly hatched baby brine.