Fish to Go With Cherry Barbs Updated

Fish to Go With Cherry Barbs

The Ruby-red Barb is a great freshwater fish that nosotros've been recommending for years. If you've been in the aquarium scene for a while there'due south a good chance you lot know someone who'southward owned ane.

Hither's why they're so common:

This species is beautiful and fun to observe. If you're someone who actually values the aesthetic of the fish in your tank, the Cherry Barb is a practiced choice.

But they're more than but pretty. These fish are quite easy to treat also. The water parameters, tank requirements, tank mates, and diet they need tin all exist provided past a beginner.

However, that doesn't mean y'all should get one without the correct base of operations of knowledge. Read this guide to teach everything you need to know about Cherry-red Barb intendance.

Species Summary

Cherry Barbs (Puntius titteya) are freshwater fish that are quite popular amidst aquarists. This has been the case for many years, and it doesn't look like at that place's going to exist a decrease in interest anytime presently!

These fish are a tropical species that comes from Sri Lanka. While there accept been reports of this species beingness found in parts of Southern Republic of india, that hasn't been scientifically verified.

The Cherry Affront has likewise been found in Columbia and United mexican states with some trickling in to Panama. This species obviously didn't get here on its ain, humans brought them there. Even though this was most probable accidental, they quickly adapted to these waters as well.

These fish are currently categorized as vulnerable on the IUCN Ruddy List. This is partly due to their popularity in the aquarium scene (which leads to people capturing more than they should).

The other contributing gene to their decrease in population is their shrinking natural habitat. A lot of the waters where you could normally find these fish are disappearing or are only uninhabitable.

Author Notation: Because Cherry Barbs are considered vulnerable we recommend that y'all retrieve long and hard about your willingness to care for them. Fifty-fifty though they're very easy to care for, we often hear most beginners getting these as a starter fish without knowing if they're really that into fishkeeping.

If you're non sure if this hobby is for you (in that location'southward cypher incorrect with this of course) then there are enough of other piece of cake freshwater fish you can get that don't face the same conservation challenges.

Lifespan

The average Ruby-red Affront lifespan is between 5 and vii years. This lifespan is assuming a good level of intendance when it comes to h2o weather, habitat setup, and tank mates.

Nosotros've heard of a few owners who have reached the viii-year mark with this species. These owners all provided top-notch intendance and took the process very seriously. If y'all're looking to maximize the lifespan of these fish, you should do the same.

Appearance

The appearance of the Blood-red Affront is the first thing that draws you in. True to their name, these fish are a brilliant cherry red pretty much from head to toe.

A Cherry Barb swimming through planted tanks

It's worth noting that male Cherry Barbs are more than colorful than the females. Males are commonly the expected vibrant red, and females are a bit paler.

The ane thing you'll notice with their coloration that stands out is the dark line that runs down the center of their sides (from mouth to caudal fin). Due to their scales and the fact that this line is slightly faded, information technology can look dotted from the right angle.

Cerise Barbs have a very long and sparse trunk shape. This makes them quite speedy and hydrodynamic.

The fins on this species are very standard for a minor barb. The dorsal fin starts virtually halfway back on their torso and looks like half a shell. When this fish swims quickly this fin gets tucked back a flake (this makes them look like picayune cherry-red torpedoes).

Their anal and pectoral fins are moderately sized. Cherry Barbs have a forked caudal fin that is symmetrical on the superlative and lesser.

Each of their fins is slightly translucent. Females seem to accept clearer fins than the males however.

Size

The maximum size of a Cherry Barb is about 2 inches in length when fully grown. Information technology's not uncommon for these fish to stop growing at 1 inch depending on their level of care and genetic factors.

Writer Note: If you want to ensure that y'all get the largest Cherry Barb possible, the commencement step is to purchase them from a trustworthy seller. This could be your favorite online store or a local breeder. Do your research alee of time!

Cherry Barb Care

Cherry Barb care is very simple and attainable for anyone (no matter how experienced you are). This makes them a bang-up species to ain for beginners who are looking for a pretty nevertheless depression-maintenance freshwater fish.

But at that place are withal a few things you need to know.

No matter how like shooting fish in a barrel a fish is to care for, they tin can suffer serious health complications if their habitat isn't suitable. It's your job every bit an owner to empathise and provide conditions that meet the needs of your fish.

Tank Size

The recommended tank size for Carmine Bards is at least 25 to 30 gallons. This will let yous to comfortably fit a school of these fish in one tank without them feeling too cramped.

Author Note: We cover this in a later section, but you lot should never become only one Red Barb (schooling fish demand company). That's why yous need a decent-sized tank even though this species if very pocket-sized.

Water Parameters

One of the reasons why Reddish Barbs are such beginner-friendly fish is the wiggle room you have with their water parameters. The adequate ranges are very generous, and perfect for a newer aquarist who's learning the ropes (or someone with experience who doesn't want the hassle).

Fifty-fifty though these are hardy fish y'all should yet effort to keep these levels as consistent as possible. Shifts in parameters can cause health issues for whatsoever species.

Water temperature: 73°F to 81°F
pH levels: half-dozen to 8
H2o hardness: 5 to 19 dH

In order to make sure these parameters are being met you should make it a habit to perform regular water tests. Doing this consistently will permit y'all to brand adjustments when needed before things attain a signal of concern.

In gild to have confidence in the tests you're running, you should pick up a reliable and accurate h2o exam kit.

Some of the low-quality ones will give you inaccurate readings which is unsafe. That can result in you making unnecessary adjustments to the water and causing bug that didn't exist before!

Setting Up Their Tank

When information technology comes to setting upwards the tank, you'll want to have the natural habitat of the Reddish Barb in listen. These fish come from shallow and calm waters that have plenty of vegetation (oft on the surface).

This means providing them with a well-planted tank will be your main goal.

There are a bunch of plants yous can include (any of the floating aquarium plants are great) but we like hornwort, h2o wisteria, and anacharis.

The substrate should be next on your listing of priorities. Since Ruby Barbs come from waters where the substrate is very dark and silty, yous'll want to replicate this in your aquarium.

Darker sand is a great selection for these fish. Non only is it what they're used to, merely it also adds to the overall aesthetic of the tank. The brilliant cherry-red color of these fish really pops in a darker environment!

Yous can include some driftwood, caves, and rocks if you want as well. These are secondary though, and should never compromise the school'southward power to swim freely and explore the tank. These are very agile and need room to motion.

Disease Potential

1 of the great things about Cherry Barbs is that they're very durable and resistant to diseases. They're considered a hardy fish and aren't plagued by a species-specific illness.

While this is obviously keen and will undoubtedly make your ownership a bit easier, it'south not like these fish are invincible. If you lot don't provide them with the optimal habitat and diet their hazard of getting ill will increase significantly.

Ich is always a major freshwater disease to await out for and will present as white spots on the body of your fish. Y'all volition probably find a change in their behavior too.

At that place are enough of other infections and parasites that Ruby-red Barbs can go as well, and then it'southward important to audit your fish every in one case in a while to look for anything out of the ordinary. Simply taking a few minutes each day goes a long mode!

Author Note: Ultimately, information technology's far easier to prevent illness and disease than to treat it. Being consistent with the level of intendance and attending you lot requite your fish pays off!

Food & Diet

The diet of a Red Barb in the wild is very flexible. These fish are omnivores and will consider eating pretty much annihilation they can notice.

While they're not above eating little pieces of plants that fall into the water, these fish love pocket-size critters! Tiny insects, worms, algae, and plankton make up a lot of their food but they will consider other creatures as well.

In your aquarium, you'll be feeding these fish a more straightforward nutrition. Nigh owners like to stick with high-quality chip foods that tin can serve every bit the backbone of their nutritional intake.

Additionally, some protein-rich foods like alkali shrimp and bloodworms are a not bad choice. These volition provide some multifariousness to their diet and give your Cherry Barbs a little bit of enrichment.

Brand certain you're not giving these fish too much to eat since this tin can pb to an assortment of wellness problems. Watch how much y'all're feeding them, and if all the food isn't eaten in a couple of minutes only give them a bit less adjacent time.

Beliefs & Temperament

Ruddy Barbs are fairly active fish that will spend a lot of their time moving in the tank (assuming y'all're keeping them with non-threatening tank mates).

Since you'll be getting a grouping of these fish (because of their schooling nature) it will be quite common to run across them swimming around together. This is because they feel safer together than out on their own.

Every in one case in a while you might encounter one go out the school to check something out, but they'll always return to the group.

The Cherry Affront is the quintessential "peaceful" fish. They don't want to cause any problem and prefer to mind their own business!

The only fourth dimension where you might run into these fish brandish ambitious beliefs is during mating. Males volition chase females besides as other males in club to establish potency and attempt to mate (this is not uncommon).

Author Note: You'll usually see these fish spending their fourth dimension in the middle of the tank. Since they're active and relatively curious you might see them investigate something almost the surface or substrate from time to time. Nonetheless, they will always revert dorsum to pond with their school in the middle.

Cherry Affront Tank Mates

Considering of their peaceful nature, at that place'southward a long listing of potential Cherry Barb tank mates you can cull from.

The most important guideline to remember is that these fish should not be paired with ambitious or significantly larger species. Peaceful fish or even slightly larger lesser-feeders will ordinarily be just fine!

A Cherry Barb swimming with some tank mates

To become yous started, here's a list of some Cherry Affront tank mates we recommend:

You don't have to merely consider fish too. In that location are plenty of other oddball creatures that are compatible with the Cherry Barb. Our favorites are the Mystery Snail and Cherry Shrimp.

A common question nosotros get is if you can keep Carmine Barbs and Betta fish together. While some owners take made this work, we've heard too many bad stories to recommend this pairing.

Breeding

Breeding Ruby-red Barbs is pretty simple. Unlike some other species, at that place'southward not a lot of piece of work yous need to do in guild to initiate the process.

Most of the prep on your end will be in advance. This is because you'll demand to have the proper tank and habitat conditions for the mating pair likewise as the eggs.

The fish you intend to breed volition need a tank that's a footling chip smaller than normal, and y'all'll need another tank for the eggs. Scarlet Barbs are a fish that volition eat their eggs in captivity if they're not taken away (counterproductive, we know).

You'll besides want to make sure that the breeding tank is well-planted. This species uses plants as a place to hide and protect their eggs in the wild, so if they don't see any in their tank they'll think the location isn't suitable.

There volition exist a large number (hundreds) of Cherry Affront eggs that are laid, and so you'll need to exist ready to separate them quickly. Some aquarists recommend certain tools for this but we think whatsoever allows you to get the job washed is fine.

The eggs only take a couple of days to hatch. Once they exercise you lot should showtime feeding them with micro eels and eventually brine shrimp as they grow. These foods will ensure that they get enough fuel to support their rapid growth.

Conclusion

The Cherry Barb is a fish that we can't recommend plenty. Time and time again we've encouraged other aquarists to get them, and the feedback always comes dorsum great!

These fish are easy to treat, peaceful, and cute. What'due south not to like?

If you're on the debate virtually owning them for one reason or some other, read this guide again and take some time to think. Because of their vulnerable status, we always recommend that owners be 100% confident in their decision to become this species before they pull the trigger.

Once you get them it'southward all downhill from there. You'll spend countless hours watching them swim effectually the aquarium like little red bullets. Information technology doesn't get old!

If you withal have questions nearly Cherry Barb care or the species in general, we'd love to hear from y'all. We're always looking to connect with new aquarists and meliorate the resources on our site!