Tiger Barb – A Lively and Striking Freshwater Fish

The Tiger Barb is a popular freshwater fish known for its bold black stripes, vibrant orange-red body, and energetic personality. This active and playful fish is a favorite among aquarists who enjoy watching dynamic schooling behavior. Tiger Barbs are hardy, adaptable, and bring movement and color to community aquariums.

Appearance
Tiger Barbs have a compact, torpedo-shaped body with four distinctive vertical black stripes running across a bright orange to reddish body. Their fins are often tipped with red or orange, adding to their striking appearance. Adult Tiger Barbs typically reach 2–3 inches in length, making them small but highly active and eye-catching school fish.

Temperament and Behavior
Tiger Barbs are lively, social, and best kept in groups of six or more to prevent aggression. When kept in proper schools, they interact dynamically and display playful chasing behavior. They may nip the fins of slow-moving or long-finned tankmates, so it’s important to choose compatible species. Males may show more vibrant colors and mild dominance displays, especially during spawning.

Tank Requirements
Tank Size A minimum of 20 gallons for a small school, larger tanks are preferred for bigger groups.
Water Conditions Slightly acidic to neutral pH 6.5–7.5 with soft to moderately hard water.
Temperature 74–79°F 23–26°C for optimal health and activity.
Aquascape Provide open swimming areas with plants, rocks, and hiding spots to reduce stress and allow natural schooling behavior.

Diet
Tiger Barbs are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet. Offer high-quality flakes or pellets as a staple, supplemented with live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Occasional vegetable matter, like blanched spinach or spirulina-based foods, helps maintain health and vibrant coloration.

Breeding
Tiger Barbs are egg scatterers. During spawning, males chase females and fertilize the eggs as they are laid on plants or spawning mops. Adults do not guard the eggs, so providing a separate breeding tank or protecting the eggs is recommended. Eggs typically hatch within 24–36 hours, and fry become free-swimming after about 3–4 days.

Tankmates
Good tankmates include other fast, active, and semi-aggressive species such as danios, barbs, rainbowfish, and certain cichlids. Avoid slow-moving or long-finned fish that may become targets of fin nipping.

Why Choose the Tiger Barb
The Tiger Barb is a vibrant, energetic, and social fish that adds excitement and color to community aquariums. Its bold stripes, playful schooling behavior, and hardiness make it an ideal choice for aquarists looking for lively and interactive freshwater fish.