Description
The very popular tiger barb is an easy fish to care for and can be fun to watch as it swims at high speed in schools of six or more. It is not, however, an ideal fish for a community tank as it can be mildly aggressive and nip any fish with flowing fins. When well cared for, tiger barbs have a lifespan of five to seven years.
The tiger barb is native to Borneo and Malaysia, including Sarawak and Kalimantan. They can also be found on the island of Sumatra and in Thailand and Cambodia. Non-native tiger barbs have been introduced in Singapore, Australia, the United States, and Colombia.
In their native habitat, these fish inhabit quiet, tree-lined rivers and tributaries filled with sand, rocks, and thick vegetation where they can find insects, algae, invertebrates, and detritus from plants. They prefer clear, highly-oxygenated water.
Colors and Markings
Four tiger-like black vertical bands on an orange-yellow body make it obvious where this member of the barb family got its common name. Red-edged fins and a red face add even more color to the popular tiger barb. In recent years, selective breeding has created several color variations that include green, black, red, and albino. A genetically modified glow version of the tiger barb occurs in many colors.
Tankmates
Reaching an adult size of 2 1/2 to 3 inches, they are large enough to avoid being eaten by large fish, yet small enough to keep a school of them in a modest-sized aquarium. For a striking display, set up a species-specific tank with a half dozen of each color variation of tiger barb, complemented by live plants.
Provided there is considerable space, one of the best tankmates for the tiger barb is the similar looking clown loach; it will even school with the tiger barbs and act as they do. Alternatively, pair the tiger barb with fast-moving tankmates such as danios, platys, loaches, or catfish.
When kept singly or in groups of two to three, tiger barbs will terrorize almost any fish that is unfortunate enough to reside in the same tank. Yet if they are kept in groups of a half dozen or more, they will usually keep their quarreling to themselves. Regardless of the numbers kept, it is never advisable to keep tiger barbs in the same aquarium with docile, slow-moving, or long or flowing-finned fish, such as the angelfish, guppies or bettas.
Tiger Barb Habitat and Care
Tigers barbs tolerate a wide range of water conditions, but do best in soft, slightly acidic water. The ideal tank should have a large open area for swimming with an abundance of live or artificial plants around the periphery of the tank. Temperature is not critical, and this fish can even be kept in an unheated tank. Provide good lighting and a fine substrate to complete the setup.
Tiger Barb Diet and Feeding
Accepting of virtually any food, tiger barbs should be given a variety of foods to maintain a healthy immune system. Include quality pelleted or flake food, as well as live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and beef heart. They will quickly gobble up small aquatic invertebrates and even cooked vegetables.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.