Genus name: Barbus Titteya

Distribution:  Sri Lanka

Length: up to 2" (5cm)

Minimum Tank Length:  18" (45cm)

Water Temperature: 73-81F (23-27C)

Diet: Worms, small crustaceans, plant matter, dried food

Water: Fairly soft, to medium hard water

Lives:  mostly in the middle layers

Breeding:  Egg Layers

An elegant small barb, the Cherry Barb has a relatively elongated body, and one pair of barbels on the upper jaw at the corners of their mouth. The back is chestnut-brown with greenish iridescence, and the flanks are silvery with red tones.  A dark brown or blue-black stripe extends from the mouth to the centre of the tail base.

When the Cherry Barb gets excited, a double row of dark dots can sometimes be discerned below the dark stripe.  The Cherry Barb has a golden-red iris and the gill cover is also red.

In the wild the Cherry Barb lives in shady streams, so in captivity they should be given subdued lighting and marginal vegetation.  A few isolated plants with tough leaves will provide enough shelter.  They also need to open water to be able to swim freely in.

When spawning time is approaching, the male Cherry Barb becomes intense red, particularly on its underside.   The male has red fins, whilst the female Cherry Barb has yellowish fins. In general the female is considerably paler than the male.

Cherry Barbs do not shoal like most other Barbs, so just a pair in a community aquarium is fine. They are generally very peaceful, and are good for community aquariums.

When Cherry Barbs spawn, they lay somewhere from 150 to 250 eggs, and these are usually laid on fine leaved plants.  The eggs will hatch within 24 hours, and will be free swimming after a few days. Just like most other Barbs, Cherry Barbs are not good parents, and will eat their own young.