Are Cherry Barbs fin nippers?

No. Unlike Tiger Barbs and some other cyprinids, Cherry Barbs are very peaceful and are generally completely safe to house alongside slow-moving or long-finned fish.

How many Cherry Barbs should I keep together?

They should be kept in a group of at least six, though more is always better. Providing a ratio of two females for every male will help disperse the males' amorous attention and reduce stress on the females.

Why are my Cherry Barbs not red?

Firstly, check their sex; females are naturally a golden-brown or fawn colour and will never turn red. If your males are pale, it is usually a sign of stress, poor water quality, lack of female presence, or a diet lacking in varied, colour-enhancing foods.

Can Cherry Barbs live with shrimp?

They are generally very safe with larger shrimp species like Amano Shrimp or adult Neocaridina (Cherry Shrimp). However, as opportunistic micro-predators, they may occasionally hunt down and eat tiny, newly hatched shrimplets.

Do Cherry Barbs need a planted tank?

While not strictly required for their survival, a planted tank is highly recommended. The cover makes them feel significantly more secure, encouraging them to swim openly and display much richer colouration.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Cherry Barb

Pethia titteya

A brilliantly coloured, peaceful shoaling fish from Sri Lanka, the Cherry Barb is an ideal, hardy choice for planted community aquariums.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 27 °C
pH range: 6 – 8
Hardness: 2 – 18 dGH
Adult size: 4 – 5 cm
60cm standard aquarium: 60 litres+
Lifespan: 4 – 6 years
Diet: Omnivorous
Water flow: slow to moderate
Preferred setup: Densely planted with shaded areas and a dark substrate to encourage natural behaviour and best colouration.

About the Cherry Barb

The Cherry Barb is undoubtedly one of the most popular and recognizable species in the aquarium hobby. Males display a striking, deep cherry-red colouration that intensifies remarkably during spawning or sparring displays. In contrast, females present a more subdued fawn or light brown hue with a prominent lateral stripe, highlighting a clear sexual dimorphism. Rather than schooling tightly in a single direction, they tend to adopt a loose shoal, weaving playfully amongst plants and decor.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Cherry Barb comes from

Native range

South Asia

Countries / regions

Sri Lanka

Habitat

Heavily shaded, shallow, and slow-flowing forest streams with leaf litter and silt substrates in the wet zone.

Populations in the wild have been heavily impacted by deforestation and historical overfishing for the aquarium trade, though the species remains widely commercially bred.

Similar species

Checkered Barb
Oliotius oligolepis
Pentazona Barb
Desmopuntius pentazona
Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Shares similar water parameter requirements and provides a peaceful, active dynamic in the upper-middle water column.
Great
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
A peaceful bottom-dwelling species that perfectly complements the mid-water activity of the Cherry Barb without any competition.
Great
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
A brightly coloured, peaceful schooling fish that thrives in identical setups and contrasts beautifully with the red barbs.
Great
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Too large to be eaten by Cherry Barbs, these shrimp serve as an excellent, peaceful clean-up crew in a planted tank.
Great
Betta
Betta splendens
While Cherry Barbs are rarely fin nippers, their active nature may stress a timid Betta, or an aggressive Betta may chase the barbs.
Compatible with caution
Dwarf Gourami
Trichogaster lalius
Usually fine, but as both occupy the mid-to-top swimming zones, it can occasionally lead to minor territorial disputes in smaller aquariums.
Compatible with caution
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Far too boisterous and prone to nipping, which can severely stress the much more peaceful and timid Cherry Barb.
Not recommended
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
As Angelfish mature, the slender, small-bodied Cherry Barbs can easily become a snack.
Not recommended

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