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Encyclopedia / Barbs / Cherry barb
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Cherry barb

Rohanella titteya · Puntius titteya, Cherry

Peaceful, slightly shy; likes plants.

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5 cmAdult size ✓
23–27 °CTemperature ✓
6–8pH ✓
60 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Tinfoil barb eats animals up to about 5 cm. Cherry barb only grows to 5 cm.
Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Cherry barb is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (23–27 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Cherry barb only grows to 5 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 23–24 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 23–24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

371 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓2–20 dGH
Group size ✓6 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ?Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 2–3 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful, slightly shy; likes plants.

Food

Flakes, small pellets, frozen foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Male Cherry barb
Male
Female Cherry barb
Female

Adult males are smaller, slimmer and much more colourful (cherry red, especially when spawning) than females.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer · Easy

Egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care; eggs are scattered among plants.

Pairing

Buy a small group and let them pair up. Males are red; females are paler.

Setup

30 L tank with fine plants or a spawning mop. Dim light.

What starts it

Warm water, plenty of live food and cover.

Eggs

About 200-300 eggs; eggs hatch in 24-48 hours and fry are free-swimming about a day later.

Raising the fry

Feed infusoria or liquid food for days 1-3, then baby brine shrimp and microworms. Grow out with frequent water changes. Sort by size to cut losses.

Common mistakes
  • Leaving parents with eggs
  • Too bright
  • Not enough plants
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSri Lanka (south-western wet zone)
Rivers and lakesKelani and Nilwala river basins
HabitatShaded, slow forest streams with leaf litter
Native rangeAbout 120 km across
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The story of the cherry barb

A Sri Lankan endemic from heavily shaded forest streams, described by P.E.P. Deraniyagala in 1929. A generally very peaceful barb. IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, threatened by over-collection and habitat loss.

Sri Lankan zoologist P. E. P. Deraniyagala described the cherry barb in 1929. Its peaceful nature and the deep red of breeding males made it a classic community fish. Nearly all fish sold today are captive-bred.

First described by P. E. P. Deraniyagala in 1929.

  • Males turn deep cherry red when ready to spawn.
  • It is found naturally only in Sri Lanka.
  • Unlike many barbs, it is calm and rarely nips fins.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources