Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)
Names
Scientific name
Puntigrus tetrazona
Puntius tetrazona
Capoeta tetrazona
barbs tetrazona
Common name
Tiger barb
Sumatra barb
Origin
Origin: Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Borneo, Indonesia
Biotope: Asian
Dimorphism
The male has fully red pelvic fins and reddish muzzle
Group
Cyprinidae
Volume
150 L / 33 imp gal / 39 US gal
Parameters
T°: 24 à 28°C or 75 to 82°F
pH: 6 to 7
Hardness: 1 to 8°dGH
Difficulty
Easy
Size
5 to 7 cm (2 to 2.8")
Longevity
3 to 4 years
Living zone
Middle
Individuals
10
Food
Food
How to feed the Tiger barb?
Omnivorous: all forms of food are accepted with a clear preference for live prey. Pay attention to the quantities distributed because it has an insatiable appetite! You can complete this carnivorous diet with plant benefits.
Behavior
Behavior
What kind of behavior does the Tiger barb have?
The Sumatra Barb has a strong character! It can quickly be very aggressive, especially if it is maintained in small numbers. Like most Barbs, it is very active and dynamic. It has a gregarious instinct and must live in a shoal (make up your group with 1 male for 2 females).
The larger the shoal, the more this fish will become wise with other species. Indeed, the males tend to quarrel and continue between them for the attention of females.
As a result, aggression will remain intraspecific. You will also observe more beautiful colours by keeping the Sumatra Barb in large numbers: it is the rival males who parade in front of the females.
Cohabitation
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Tiger barb?
Naturally, with a temper like that of this Barb, not all community aquariums are allowed. We must therefore think about the compatibility of its population before the purchase. For example, do not associate them with slow, fearful or too small fish. Indeed, its stirring and active temperament will disturb the calm fish.
Attention also to the winged fish like the Guppy, Scalar, Gourami or Fighters whose Sumatra Barb will nibble the fins. In a bin biotope, the best choice is to propose the cohabitation with other Cyprinids of identical size or even Crossocheilus and Garras.
In a more general tank, you can associate it with Botias, Rainbow fish, Tetras or even Gastromyzons.
Breeding
Breeding
How to breed the Tiger barb?
As for most Barbs, its breeding in aquarium is quite possible.
Set aside a special aquarium to ensure a high rate of fry reaching adulthood. Place in this aquarium (15 L / 3 imp gal / 4 US gal) a protective grid at the bottom and garnish with thin-leafed plants such as Java moss for example. Fill it with mature water and aim for a temperature of 26°C or 79°F and a pH of 6.5/7. Possibly add peat extract. Condition the parents by offering them an abundance of live prey.
When the females appear gravid, choose a couple and introduce it into the spawning tank. Males are very aggressive and can even kill non-pregnant females. Therefore, if spawning does not occur within 24 hours, better separate the pair and try again later.
The laying may include up to 500 eggs per female and incubation lasts 36 hours. Fry growth is fast.
Fry food: nauplies of Artemia and Cyclops.
Its aquarium
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Tiger barb?
Its general decoration does not have much impact on it. However, it was observed that it flourished more in aquariums with a dark substrate and a beautiful plantation (robust and solid). Indeed, these elements would appease its quarrelsome temperament.
Sometimes it will search the soil (prefer a non-cutting soil).
For proper maintenance of the Sumatra Barb, choose a powerful filtration and make frequent water changes (polluter).
Good To know
Good To know
Find all additional information!
Suitable for beginners, it is not very demanding with the water parameters. Finally, it must especially be clean and this will avoid a lot of problems.
Because of its success in our aquariums, the strains sold are quite weak genetically (consanguinity). This makes it quite susceptible to diseases and malformations.
There is a variety albino, a green ("foam"), a golden and a Steel Blue. Finally, there are colorful varieties (GloFish) that must be avoided: its colours are obtained by suggestive injections and excruciatingly suffer the fish that victim, to eventually shorten its life drastically.
This practice is prohibited and the importation of these specimens also.
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