A highly active, schooling cyprinid famous for its striking black stripes and infamous reputation as a fin-nipper. They are boisterous and must be kept in larger groups (6+) to keep their pecking order internal. They should never be housed with slow-moving or long-finned tankmates like Bettas, Guppies, or Angelfish.
At a Glance
Tank Requirements
Water Parameters
Temperament & Compatibility
Available Varieties
Each variety inherits the species defaults above. Only differences are highlighted.
Standard (Wild Type)
The classic, silver-gold body with four prominent vertical black stripes and red accents on the fins and snout.
Same care requirements as the base species
Also known as: Regular, Striped
Green / Moss Barb
A popular color morph where the black stripes merge and widen to cover the entire body in a beautiful metallic green or blue/black sheen. Care and behavior are identical to the wild type.
Same care requirements as the base species
Also known as: Green Tiger Barb, Moss Green, Mutant Barb
Albino / Gold
Lacks black pigment, resulting in a yellow/orange body with white bands. Can be slightly more sensitive to excessively bright lighting, but otherwise shares the same boisterous temperament.
Same care requirements as the base species
Also known as: Albino Tiger Barb, Golden, Blushing
GloFish (Fluorescent)
Genetically modified with jellyfish/coral proteins to express bright fluorescent colors under blue/actinic lighting. Temperament and care requirements remain identical to standard Tiger Barbs.
Same care requirements as the base species
Also known as: Glo, Electric Green, Starfire Red, Sunburst Orange, Galactic Purple
Long-Finned
Selectively bred for highly extended fins. Ironically, while they are still fin-nippers themselves, their long fins make them slower swimmers and susceptible to being nipped by standard short-finned Tiger Barbs. Requires slightly less flow.
Differs in 2 traits from base species
Also known as: Veiltail Tiger Barb, Longfin
Tiger Barb Care Summary
The Tiger Barb, scientifically known as Puntigrus tetrazona, belongs to the Cyprinids family group. Adults reach a maximum size of approximately 7 cm and have a compressed body shape with a moderate growth rate. Classified as semi-aggressive, this species primarily occupies the mid-level and bottom zones of the aquarium and produces a medium level of biological waste.
To thrive, the Tiger Barb requires a freshwater only aquarium with a minimum volume of 80 litres and a tank length of at least 80 cm. Water temperature should be maintained between 20°C and 26°C, with a pH range of 6–8 and a general hardness of 1–15 dGH. A moderate water flow is preferred. To replicate their natural habitat, the tank should include plants - densely covered.
As a schooling species, Tiger Barb should be kept in groups of at least 6. Keepers should be aware that this species may nip the fins of slow-moving or long-finned tankmates and can be aggressive toward its own kind. This species is available in 5 varieties: Standard (Wild Type), Green / Moss Barb, Albino / Gold, GloFish (Fluorescent), and Long-Finned. Each may differ slightly in size, temperament, or care needs, so it is worth checking the specific requirements of the variety you plan to keep.
Similar Species
Cherry Barb
Puntius titteya
A peaceful, schooling cyprinid endemic to the shaded streams of Sri Lanka. Unlike many of its barb cousins, the Cherry Barb is not a fin-nipper and makes an excellent community fish. They thrive in heavily planted aquariums with subdued lighting and leaf litter. Males display a striking cherry-red color, especially during spawning.
Denison Barb (Roseline Shark)
Sahyadria denisonii
An endangered, stunningly colored cyprinid endemic to the fast-flowing streams of the Western Ghats in India. Characterized by a torpedo-shaped body with a striking red line and black stripe. They are highly active, fast swimmers that require highly oxygenated water, strong flow, and cooler tropical temperatures. They are strictly shoaling fish and can be skittish if kept in small numbers.
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
A highly popular, peaceful schooling catfish known for its armor-like scales (scutes) and active bottom-feeding behavior. They are essential clean-up crew members but require a dedicated sinking diet (not just leftovers). Sand substrate is strictly required to prevent erosion and infection of their sensitive barbels. They are 'gut breathers' and will occasionally dart to the surface to gulp atmospheric air.
Pictus Catfish
Pimelodus pictus
An extremely active, striking silver catfish with black spots and incredibly long barbels, native to South America. While peaceful toward similarly sized tank mates, they are highly effective nocturnal predators that will easily swallow small fish (like Neon Tetras) whole. They are scaleless and possess sharp pectoral spines that can easily become entangled in aquarium nets.
Sterba's Corydoras
Corydoras sterbai
A highly popular and peaceful schooling catfish known for its striking white-on-black spotted pattern and bright orange pectoral fins. Uniquely among Corydoras, they thrive in higher temperatures, making them excellent bottom-dwelling companions for warm-water species like Discus. They are obligate shoalers and must be kept on fine sand to prevent the erosion and infection of their delicate barbels.
Siamese Algae Eater
Crossocheilus oblongus
Famous for being one of the few freshwater fish that actively consumes Black Beard Algae (BBA). A torpedo-shaped, active bottom-to-midwater swimmer native to Southeast Asian streams. True Siamese Algae Eaters feature a distinct black horizontal stripe that extends all the way through the tail fin. As they mature, they can become lazy, preferring prepared foods over algae, and may occasionally chase other bottom dwellers.