Tiger Barb Care: Quick Start Guide

All the answers to your questions in an easy to use guide.

How big do Tiger Barbs get?

They grow be about 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) long.  More…

How long will a Tiger Barb live? (Lifespan)

Well cared for Tiger Barbs can live 5 to 10.  More…

Are Tiger Barbs easy or difficult to care for? 

Easy. They do need to be in a school of at least 10 other barbs. They are very active and ususally not shy if they are in a large school. The can be fin nippers. I have found you can’t keep snails with barbs as they view snails as a snack.

Are Tiger Barbs peaceful or aggressive?

Peaceful but they are fin nippers and they do pick on each other.

What size aquarium do Tiger Barbs require? 

My recommendations for a nicely understocked aquarium is 10 to 15 Tiger Barbs in a 30 to 40 gallon aquarium. This setup could include a few community fish.  More…

How many Tiger Barbs can I put in my aquarium?

10 in a 30 gallon tank. 15 to 20 in a 40 gallon aquarium and 20 to 30 in a 55 gallon tank. This will create an attractive lightly stocked aquarium.

What water conditions do Tiger Barbs need?

1. Tiger Barbs originate in a tropical area so they need a tank of about 78 degrees F. (about 25 degrees C.)

2. They are not picky about pH or water hardness. Mine are in a tap water tank with a hardness of 714. So tap water with a good quality aquarium water conditioner should work fine.

3. A tank with a few hiding spots would be a plus as they are a bit skittish.

What other fish can I keep with my Tiger Barbs?

Just about any fish that doesn’t have long fins or that is slow mover (like angelfish). Examples: mollies, other tetras, plecos, chinese algae eaters, etc. 

What should I feed my Tiger Barbs? How much? How often?

I usually feed my Tigers live pocessed or live froze foods. My barbs are a bit picky and often turn up the noses at flake or other processed fish foods.

When there is “live” foods in the water they eat very quickly so you can’t judge how much to feed by how long this food is in the water. A better way is to guess as to how much food their stomachs can hold.

In regards to how often, I am going to go with a scientific study on goldfish I found said that the fastest growth of juvenile Goldfish was by feeding them twice per day, vs more or less feedings. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279236515_Influence_of_Feeding_Frequency_on_Growth_performance_and_Body_Indices_of_Goldfish_Carrassius_auratus

How much do Tiger Barbs cost? 

If you buy a tiger barb from a bigbox pet store you will pay about $3.50 each. If you are buying a “starter school” of 10 your will want to buy about 15 because about 30% of all big box store fish die in the first couple of weeks.

If you buy from  a local fish store you will probably pay $7 to $9 each. Most will live.

If you buy from eBay you will spend $10 to $20 each when you include shipping.

My suggestion is to buy your barbs from the local fish store. They will more likely be healthier and less likely to make your other community fish ill.

Are Tiger Barbs  easy or difficult to breed?

Medium. Male barbs will continue to fight in the breeding tank so it is necessary to have only one male to two females in a large breeding basket or an aquarium with marbles in the bottom.

Do Tiger Barbs need a planted aquarium? 

No, they don’t care what’s in the tank. It is up to you. I’ve keep them in both planted and unplanted aquariums.

1. Introduction

The Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) is fairly easy to care for, great for beginners and experienced aquarists.

Because of its colors and activity, Tiger Barbs makes the aquarium much more active. The Tiger Barb grows to about 2.5 inches (6.3 cm)  They swim very fast do have a tendency to pick on each other so it’s not a bad idea to have a spacious aquarium.

With the correct tankmates they do make a good community fish. The Tiger Barb school activity will make the community tank more exciting.

If you’ve purchased a Tiger Barb school I can share with you a little information about your new fish:

• How large of an aquarium do they need?
• What to feed them
• Setting up the perfect aquarium condtions.
• Dieases Tiger Barbs experience
• What actions to take when breeding Tiger Barbs

How about learning more exciting facts about Tiger Barb? Read on to find out if this fish species is a good choice for your aquarium!

2. Why Put Tiger Barbs In Your Aquarium?

1.  Tiger Barbs are easy to care for.

2.  It’s reputed that this fish is aggressive towards other fish; however, this occurs when they are kept in groups of less than 5. I recommend keeping 10 to 15 Tiger Barbs in the aquarium.

Note: Personally, I would avoid placing them with slow fish or fish with large fins. Tiger Barbs idea of a snack is a slow moving fish with large fins.

3. Tiger Barb size & colors

Adults are usually 2.30 inches (6 cm) long but can reach up to 3 inches (8 cm), making them the perfect size for just about any community tank or a species-specific tank.

Regular Tiger Barb Colors include silver or somewhat brownish with four vertical stripes and a hint of red on the the tail, fins, and snout.

Video #1: Tap image to view video in a new tab or window.

Tiger Barbs and a guppy in my 30 gallon. At this time the barbs were pretty young. They are about twice this size now.

4.  How Long Do Tiger Barbs Live? Life Span

A healthy Tiger Barb can live in captivity for 5 to 10 years, with the most common being around six years.

5.  From what country do Tiger Barbs originate?

This species of Barb is native to Sumatra, an island in Indonesia. In addition, researchers also found these barbs in the waters of Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia.

As much as the fish has been in the hobby for many years, its authentic biotope and area of occurrence are still slightly unknown or unconfirmed. We believe the population we see in aquariums today to come from central and southern Sumatra. Researchers have recorded the species in Borneo, with additional records in the Indragiri, Batang Hari, and Musi river systems in Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra provinces.

In nature, the species usually inhabit streams and ponds, channels, and ditches. The substrate of the sites are usually sand and rocks.

We usually find this species amid dense aquatic vegetation and always in large schools. This increases their protection from predators like large fish and birds.

6.  Feeding Tiger Barbs

I’ve read that Tiger Barbs are an omnivorous fish, meaning they eat protein and vegetable-based foods.

I haven’t seen this.

My Tiger Barbs will eat only live or live frozen foods. They don’t seem to consider vegetable matter or processed fish foods as actual food.

My conclusion is that they are actually omnivores that will only eat vegetable matter or flake foods if they are starving.

In nature, what they are said to eat includes worms, crustaceans, insects, and insect larvae.

Side Note: My Tiger Barbs love Ramshorn Snails. I buy these by the hundred on eBay and keep them in their own tank. The Barbs get about three a day in the morning.

I feed my Tiger Barbs twice a day. They receive insect larvae, frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, and decapsulated brine shrimp eggs.

They are big, happy Tiger Barbs that occasionally breed in the community tank. This shows that they are being fed correctly.

Video #2: feeding my Tiger Barbs mosquito larvae.

7.  How Do Tiger Barbs Behave In An Aquarium? Behavior

When kept in a large enough school, Tiger Barbs are extremely active.

They aren’t shy but still need to dart to a hiding spot if startled. They will come out from hiding fairly quickly.

Tiger Barbs are mid-level feeders in the aquarium, although they will occasionally grab food from the top of the water. When feeding, they are very active. You can see this in video #2 on this page.

Although I haven’t noticed it, the species has a loose hierarchy system, with rival males continually vying for status within the group. To disperse aggression, keep a group of at least ten individuals minimum, in your aquarium.

Picture 2: A group of Tiger Barbs (and spinach) in my 30 gallon.
(Upper left: “Do I look fat in this Tiger Barb outfit?”)
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8.  Individual Tiger Barb Aggression

An aggressive Tiger Barb will display by spreading its fins, nipping at other fish, and chasing after them. It is not uncommon for it to kill other species or another Tiger Barb in its group. An unusually bright display of their colors is a warning of their hostile intent.

Managing symptoms of aggressive behavior is easy, requiring mainly the attention of the aquarist and a little knowledge of the species.

In this species of barb, males will always disturb the females and fight other males for higher positions within the group.

Regardless of the size of the aquarium, disputes will occur. Tanks with higher volumes will give more areas to escape and hide for fish on the receiving end of such aggression.

While you don’t want to have less than 10 Tiger Barbs in an aquarium, you also want to take care not to overcrowd. In tight environments, barbs can become highly aggressive, like any other fish.

9. What Community Fish Are Compatible With Tiger Barbs?

Here are a few fish that would work well with Tiger Barbs:

1.  Zebra Danio

2.  Harlequin Rasbora

3.  White Cloud Minnow

4.  Galaxy Rasbora

5.  Sparkling Gourami

6.  Corydoras (Cory Catfish)

7.  Bristlenose Plecostomus

8.  Royal Plecostomus

9.  Rummy Nose Tetra

10. Cherry Barb

The Tiger Barb is a fish known to sometimes be aggressive towards its tank mates, so it may not always be the ideal companion. It can, however, get along very well in a community aquarium that contains other fast-swimming fish.

We know Tiger Barbs as “fin nibblers”. When maintained correctly, with all requirements fulfilled, they are actually a peaceful fish with other fish species.

Whenever you keep Tiger Barbs in a community tank, choose non-aggressive, similarly sized tank mates. My 30 gallon aquarium has 11 Tiger Barbs, 2 Molly fish, and a Bristlenose Pleco. So far, the Tiger Barbs have not disturbed the other fish. When in groups, the Tiger Barbs annoy and chase each other rather than the other aquarium inhabitants.

Avoid placing this species with slow-swimming and peaceful fish, such as male Bettas, Gouramis, Angelfish, or species with long fins.

What’s the best fish to place with the Tiger Barbs? Even more Tiger Barbs! Imagine a 100 gallon aquarium filled with driftwood, rocks, large sword plants, and 40 Tiger Barbs, with no other fish.

Finally, don’t forget that the Tiger Barb, as a schooling fish, needs to live in the company of others of its kind. When you buy Tiger Barbs for your home aquarium, you will want to buy at least 10 Barbs.

10. How Do I Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Tiger Barbs?

The male is slightly smaller, thinner, and has a more intense color pattern than females. This is especially noticeable on their snouts and tips of the fins. Mature alpha males and quarrelsome males have intense body coloration. Females have a mouth the same color as the rest of the body and are thicker.

11. What Are Common Tiger Barb Diseases?

Tiger Barbs are a very disease resistant species. There are no specific diseases that affect only this species, but they are susceptible to low water quality.

Unfortunately, many fish traded today are genetically weak, prone to disease, or develop physical deformities because of excessive inbreeding. This goes for Tiger Barbs too.

As with any other fish, the best advice we can give is to make sure your water condition is as close to perfect as possible, and you shouldn’t have too many problems. Good filtration is always a good place to start.

12. How Do I Set Up A Tiger Barb Tank?

Being an incredibly active fish that likes to swim almost frantically, you must provide them with plenty of space. I recommend an aquarium of at least 30 gallons (150 liters).

To provide a suitable aquarium for barbs, make sure that the physical and chemical parameters of the aquarium water are correct to support the species.

Tiger Barb aquarium maintenance is not dependent on aquarium decorations. Still, plants, driftwood, and rocks help replicate the conditions in nature and serve as a hiding places during disputes and fights.

The ideal tank temperature will be between 74º F and 80º F (23º C and 27º C). Water hardness level of up to 10 dGH and a pH between 5 and 7.6. This means soft water is best, if possible. They are flexible about water hardness. I know this because I keep healthy barbs in very hard tapwater.

13. Breeding Tiger Barbs Made Easy

The Tiger Barb is a simple fish to breed. It is an egg-scattering, free spawning species whose reproduction process is like other barbs.

I actually see my Tiger Barbs spawning in the community tank, so getting them to lay eggs is fairly easy.

When the species reaches the size of about 1.5 inches (2 to 3 cm), they become sexually mature (9 months or more). The mating ritual begins with the male displaying himself to the female, who, if interested, will disperse the eggs freely along the substrate. The male will then fertilize the eggs.

The parents do not exhibit parental care and will eat all eggs and fry if given a chance.

When trying to reproduce, make the aquarium bottom inaccessible to the breeders or remove the breeders after they are done.

Ideally, set up a breeding tank of about 20 gallons / 75 liters, with a filter, heater, some plants, and a spawning crate or marbles covering the bottom on the aquarium . If possible put two females and one male in the breeding tank.

First, place the female in the breeding tank, and after a few days, add the male when she is full of eggs (pregnant females will have a considerably larger rounded belly and a darker, almost black dorsal fin).

The courtship ritual starts in the late afternoon, with them swimming around each other most of the time.

Spawning usually occurs in the morning, with the male chasing and nipping the female. The female will release between 1 and 3 eggs at a time. Most mature females can release around 300 or more eggs. The males will follow closely behind to fertilize them all.

The fry will hatch within 48 hours and swim freely within one day more. Feed the fry infusoria, liquid food for fry, and brine shrimp nauplii, at least three times a day. Remember that fry need high-quality water to survive.

For more information on breeding Tiger Barbs, see this excellent publication (opens in a new tab): http://www.ctsa.org/files/publications/CTSA_1296316728612942177442.pdf

14. What Types Of Tiger Barbs Are There? Strains And Genetics

Because it is a trendy fish among aquarists and because of its beauty and resistance, breeders have produced several varieties, such as green Tiger Barbs, albino Tiger Barbs, and gold Tiger Barbs.

Artificially dyed fish are unfortunately being traded. Knowledgeable fish keepers view this procedure is cruel. Please avoid buying dyed fish of any kind.

As much as the fish has been in the hobby for many years, its authentic biotope and area of occurrence are still slightly unknown or unconfirmed. We believe the population we see in aquariums today to come from central and southern Sumatra. Researchers have recorded the species in Borneo, with additional records in the Indragiri, Batang Hari, and Musi river systems in Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra provinces.

Conclusion

A prevalent fish in aquariums around the world, there are many domestic varieties available, with most specimens showing very prominent coloration. It has a gray tone in its wild form but still has its classic coloring and banding. Hobbyists have introduced the species in several countries. Tiger Barbs are a potential environmental threat because of its easy adaptation to different environments and rapid proliferation.

Aquarists looking for a colorful, active fish to brighten up a fish tank Tiger Barbs won’t disappoint. Fish keepers with limited experience can still care for this fish.

The unique appearance of Tiger Barbs (Barbo Sumatra), combined with a well-decorated aquarium, guarantees a beautiful look for lovers of aquatic pets

FAQ

Question: “Are Tiger Barbs easy to keep?”

Answer: Tiger Barbs are very easy to keep. They are disease resistant and can take some neglect.

Question: “How many Tiger Barbs should be kept together?”

Answer: “The more, the merrier.” This is fish that likes to school with its own kind. I have five in my tank. Eight is better. More than eight is heaven for Tiger Barbs.

Questions “How often should you feed Tiger Barbs?”   

Answer: At least twice a day. I feed mine smaller amounts 3 or 4 times per day.

Question: “Can Tiger Barbs be kept with Goldfish?”

Nope. Don’t even go there.

1. 1. Goldfish are not a tropical fish. To live they need basement cool temperatures (65º F) or less. Tiger Barbs should be kept at 75º F to 80º F.
   2. Tiger Barbs would consider the fins of the slower moving Goldfish as a snack. They would nip, bite and eat the Goldfish’s fins.

Question: “What are the best Tiger Barb tank mates?”      

Answer: Any active species of tropical fish with “non-showy” fins would work. For example: female guppies and other live bearers, Danios, other Barb fish, Plecos, Corydoras, and Tetras.