Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona)
Notorious fin-nipper. Single tigers are aggressive. Schools of 8+ redirect aggression internally.
Avoid tank mates with long fins: bettas, angelfish, gouramis.
Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)
Peaceful, beautiful red males. 2 inches.
Excellent community fish. Schools of 6+ ideal.
Rosy Barb (Pethia conchonius)
Larger than cherries (4 inches). Males develop deep rose color in breeding condition.
Fast swimmers — need lots of horizontal swim space.
Denison Barb (Sahyadria denisonii)
Most beautiful barb. Long body with red and black stripe. 4-5 inches.
Very active — needs 75+ gallon tank. Wild collection has impacted population.
- ✦Schools matter — single tiger barbs guarantee fin-nipping problems
- ✦Cherry barbs are nano-tank champions
- ✦Denison barbs need oxygenated, fast-flow tanks