Tiger Barb

The tiger barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) comes from Sumatra and Borneo and is instantly recognisable: a deep gold-orange body crossed by four black bars, with orange edging on the nose and fins. It is one of the busiest fish in the hobby, constantly circling, chasing and testing the other members of its group. That energy is the appeal, and it is also the reason tiger barbs have a reputation for nipping fins.

Aquarium care

• Reaches about 7 cm.
• Boisterous rather than aggressive, but a persistent fin nipper in small numbers.
• Keep eight or more. A larger group spreads the chasing out among themselves.
• Wants open swimming space with planting around the edges.
• Swims mainly in the middle of the tank.
• Omnivorous and an eager feeder: flake, pellets, frozen foods.

Best kept as a feature group in its own right, or with fish that are quick and short-finned, such as danios, rainbowfish, other barbs and larger corydoras. Avoid pairing them with angelfish, bettas, guppies or anything else trailing long fins.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the rest of the current barbs.