Cherry barb

Rohanella titteya

Also known as Puntius titteya

FreshwaterFish

Cherry barb (Rohanella titteya) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F; 22–27°C
pH: 6.0–8.0
Adult size: 2 in; 5 cm
Minimum tank: 14 gal; 54 L

Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Beginner
Breeding: Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity: Very common
Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Sri Lanka

Overview

The cherry barb is a small, peaceful schooling barb that suits a planted community tank. Its calm nature makes it a solid beginner fish.

Did you know

The cherry barb's red is mostly a male display. A dominant breeding male turns a bright, deep cherry, while subordinate males and resting fish stay much paler. The color in your tank shifts through the day, depending on who is showing off and who is laying low.

Caring for the cherry barb

Keep cherry barbs in a group of at least six, in a tank of 14 gal (54 L) or more. Aim for more females than males, so the males are not all pestering one female. A planted tank with some shade and gentle flow brings out their color and confidence.

Cherry barbs are flexible on water, taking 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. They eat almost anything, including flake, micro pellets and frozen or live foods such as bloodworms and daphnia.

Cherry barbs are peaceful and tend to hang in the middle and lower water near plants. They suit a calm community tank.

Males are slimmer and turn red in good condition or when breeding, while females are stockier and a muted brownish color. Cherry barbs are egg scatterers with no parental care, and the adults will eat their own eggs if given the chance. Breeding them takes a little experience.

Good to know

The cherry barb, Rohanella titteya, is a small cyprinid in the family Cyprinidae. It also goes by the name Puntius titteya.

In the wild

Cherry barbs are native to shaded forest streams in Sri Lanka. The water there is slow and soft, with overhanging plants and a layer of leaf litter on the bottom.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The cherry barb is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a cherry barb need?

A cherry barb needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a cherry barb need?

A cherry barb is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does a cherry barb eat?

A cherry barb eats almost anything. Offer flake and micro pellets, plus frozen or live bloodworms and daphnia.

How big does a cherry barb get?

An adult cherry barb reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

Does a cherry barb need a group?

Yes. A cherry barb is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male cherry barb from a female?

Males are slimmer and show red in good condition or when breeding. Females are stockier and a muted brownish color.

How does a cherry barb breed?

Cherry barbs are egg scatterers that give no parental care. The adults eat their own eggs when they get the chance, and breeding them takes a little experience.