Albino Cherry Barb
Puntius titteya var "albino"
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 20–27 °C
Species profile
African Banded Barb
Enteromius fasciolatus
Common names: African Banded Barb, Angola Barb, Orange Barb, Red Barb, Tiger Barb
Recognized speciesBarbs
Adult size
Up to 6 cm
Up to 6 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A peaceful community tank with similar-sized fish
- A keeper with room for a proper group of 10 or more
Think carefully if
- Your tap water is hard and you do not want to treat it
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 6 or more
An attractive little African barb with dark bands, also called the Blue Banded or Angola Barb. Keep a group of at least 6 in 68 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
An attractive little African barb with dark bands, also called the Blue Banded or Angola Barb. It needs soft, slightly acidic water, and is quite peaceful.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Mature females are usually rounder in the belly, and males are usually slimmer and often brighter.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 270–340 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–100 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 68 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 75 cm
- Minimum group size
- 6
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
A long tank with open swimming water, plants around the edges and steady filtration suits this fish. A darker substrate and some floating plants usually bring out its colour.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Active and social, and most settled when kept with its own kind.
Keep a group of at least 6, and more if you can. Larger groups are calmer and show better colour and behaviour.
Not territorial, although males may spar and display.
Suits a community of similar-sized, peaceful fish that like the same water. Avoid large predators, which will treat it as food. It may eat baby shrimp.
Water Parameters
Needs acidic water.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Small flake or micro pelletsA good staple. Feed small amounts that are eaten within a couple of minutes.
- Frozen or live daphnia and brine shrimpOffer a few times a week for colour and condition.
- Small bloodwormA rich treat rather than a daily food.
A small African omnivore. Feed fine flake and micro pellets with frozen daphnia and baby brine shrimp.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- InfusoriaNeeded for the first days, because most fry are very small.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce as soon as the fry can take it.
An egg scatterer with no parental care. Adults eat eggs and fry, so use a separate tank with fine plants, moss or mesh on the bottom, and remove the adults after spawning. The fry need very small foods at first.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Africa, Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Freshwater Stream, Lake, River
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Enteromius
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Species group
- Barbs, Fish
- Previous scientific names
- Barbus fasciolatus, Name also used in the hobby.
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Albino Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona var. "Albino"
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
Arulius Barb
Dawkinsia tambraparniei
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 18–25 °C
Black Ruby Barb
Pethia nigrofasciata
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 20–27 °C