Tiger barb care

Water temperature

72–81°F

Keep tiger barbs at 72–81°F with a pH of 6–7.5, in a tank of at least 30 gallons. Good tank mates include corydoras, neon tetras, clown loaches.

Famous fin nipper. Big groups keep them busy with each other.

Puntigrus tetrazona

pH

6–7.5

Minimum tank

30 gal

Adult size

3.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Groups of 6+

Lifespan

5–7 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• CorydorasYes
• Neon tetraYes
• Clown loachYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Sparkling gouramiYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Bolivian ramYes
• Pictus catfishYes
• OtocinclusYes
• Paradise fishYes
• Mystery snailYes
• Bristlenose plecoYes

Full tiger barb tank mate chart: 63 yes, 19 with care, 16 no

Tiger barb water compared

Fish to keep away from tiger barbs

• Betta Tiger barbs nip fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Guppy Tiger barbs nip fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
• Angelfish Tiger barbs nip fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); tiger barbs need 72–81°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and much bigger than tiger barbs.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); tiger barbs need 72–81°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches tiger barbs do.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches tiger barbs do.

More barbs, danios, rasboras and sharks

• Goldfish60–74°F
• Koi59–77°F
• Red tail shark72–79°F
• Rainbow shark72–80°F
• Bala shark72–82°F
• Celestial pearl danio72–79°F
• Zebra danio65–77°F
• Fancy goldfish65–74°F