Minimum tank footprint for adult Cherry Barb
Cherry Barb needs at least 20 gallons before tank mates, decor displacement, or group-size pressure are added.
Cherry Barb
Puntius titteya compatibility profile. Find the best tank mates by checking water parameters, aquarium swim zone pressure, social rules, and shrimp-safe verifications.
Core facts & bioload limits
Adult size2"
Minimum tank20 gal
Temperamentpeaceful
Group6+
Retail price tier$
- temperature72-80F
- pH6-7.8
- water_hardnessGH 4-15 dGH | KH 2-8 dKH
- plant_safetysafe
- shrimp_safetycaution
- algae_eating_rolenone
- beginner_suitabilitybeginner
- price_tierBudget schooling fish. Observed retail label sequence from the 2026-06-08+ photo batch; exact local prices vary.
Community planning & swim zone pressure
When planning a community around Cherry Barb, consider the aquarium swim zone pressure. This species primarily occupies the middlebottom zone. Balance the setup by choosing tank mates that occupy the top or bottom zones to reduce crowding and stress.
2026 smart aquarium and aquascape planning for Cherry Barb
Why nano aquarium advice does not fit Cherry Barb
Aquascape style cannot compensate for a tank that is too small. Match the adult footprint, social group, and filtration first, then choose plants or hardscape.
Does Cherry Barb need programmable LED sunrise/sunset lighting?
Programmable sunrise and sunset ramps are optional, but gradual lighting can reduce startle behavior in tanks with open swimming lanes or skittish community fish.
Ideal smart heater temperature parameters for Cherry Barb breeding
Keep the heater inside the listed range of 72-80F; breeding attempts should favor stability over chasing the warmest possible number.
How high water flow from modern powerheads affects Cherry Barb
Match flow to swim zone and body shape. If Cherry Barb avoids open water, clamps fins, or hides behind hardscape, reduce direct current and add calmer feeding areas.
Best natural biotope tank mates for Cherry Barb
Favor tank mates with overlapping temperature, pH, hardness, temperament, and swim-zone use instead of mixing fish only because they share a broad region or store display tank.
Will Cherry Barb uproot carpet plants in a Dutch style aquascape?
Plant safety is marked as safe. Even plant-safe fish can disturb carpets if they dig, graze aggressively, or crowd the foreground during feeding.
Blackwater botanical setups for Cherry Barb stress relief
Use botanicals only when the softer, tinted-water style fits the species water range. Keep pH and hardness inside the listed limits instead of dropping them quickly for appearance.
Minimalist Iwagumi aquascape stocking ideas featuring Cherry Barb
Iwagumi layouts leave fewer visual barriers, so choose peaceful tank mates and avoid territorial species that need caves, dense stems, or broken sightlines.
Care caveats
- notesPeaceful, easy-going small barb; one of the calmer barbs and a fine planted-community choice.
- caveatKeep a group of 6 or more so cherry barbs settle and show color; small groups stress and hide.
- caveatBest in planted tanks with cover — open, sparse layouts make them shy and washed-out.
- caveatMature males may flare and spar in front of females; this is normal display and rarely causes lasting damage in a balanced group, but watch for sustained chasing in cramped tanks.
- caveatAvoid large predatory tankmates and don't pair with consistently aggressive species; cherry barbs are easy to outcompete at feeding.
Conditional tank mates
No green matches are currently published for this species. These yellow matches may work only when the warnings are handled, especially temperature range, group size, flow, and stocking density.
- Bladder Snailyellowschooling_size_issue | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Bettayellowschooling_size_issue | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Black Rose Shrimpyellowshrimp_predation_risk | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Blue Dream Shrimpyellowshrimp_predation_risk | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Cherry Shrimpyellowshrimp_predation_risk | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Crystal Red Shrimpyellowshrimp_predation_risk | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Ember Tetrayellowschooling_size_issue | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Ghost Shrimpyellowshrimp_predation_risk | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Green Jade Shrimpyellowshrimp_predation_risk | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->
- Horned Nerite Snailyellowschooling_size_issue | minimum 20 galCheck this pair in the planner ->