[Ebook] 500 freshwater aquarium fish – Cyprinids – Tiger Barb (Barbus tetrazona)

This is the most widely available and popular of the barbs kept in home aquaria. It has a long aquarium history, having been introduced in the mid- 1930s and has been bred in vast numbers by both aquarists and commercial breeders. Many color varieties are currently available, with new ones continuing to appear from time to time.

Other common name

• Sumatra Bar

Synonyms

• Puntius tetrazona, Capoeta tetrazona

Subfamily

• Cyprininae

Distribution

• Indonesia (particularly Sumatra) and Borneo, including Kalimantan.

Size

• Up to 2 3/4in (7cm), but usually a little smaller.

Behavior

• Extremely active shoaler that will nip fins of other fish if kept singly or in pairs. A minimum of 6 specimens should be kept.

Diet

• All foods accepted; vegetable component recommended.

Aquarium

• Provide ample open swimming area surrounded by plant thickets. Will accept a wide range of water chemistry conditions (as long as the quality is good), but will not breed successfully unless conditions are soft and slightly acid. Temperature range: 68-79 F (20- 26 C); a little higher for breeding.

Breeding

• Typical egg scatterer and egg eater. Hatching takes about 36 hours. Mated pairs are recommended for best results.