Tiger Barb
A lively, striped schooling fish with big personality. Tiger barbs do best in groups and with tank mates that can handle their energy.
tankSize
100L (25 gal) minimum for a group
careLevel
Beginner to Intermediate
temperature
23 to 27C
temperament
Semi-aggressive
diet
Flakes or pellets plus frozen foods
lifespan
5 to 7 years
aloneOrCommunity
Community (schooling, boisterous)
weeklyMaintenance
Water changes and algae control
Best for
- Owners who want an active, energetic tank
- People willing to keep a proper group size
- Community tanks with robust fish
- Aquariums with plenty of swimming space
Not ideal for
- Tanks with slow, long-finned fish
- Very small aquariums
- Owners who keep only 1 to 2 barbs
- Very calm community setups
Temperament
- Active and can nip fins if bored or under-grouped
- More balanced behavior in groups of 8 or more
- Pairs best with fast, sturdy tank mates
Daily routine
feeding: Feed once or twice daily; varied diet keeps them healthy.
check: Watch for fin-nipping and ensure adequate group size.
enrichment: Open swimming space and plants for breaks reduce stress.
Living fit
smallHome: Works if you can provide adequate tank size and group.
kids: Fun to watch but needs good tank-mate choices.
firstTimeOwner: Good if you understand community compatibility.
Health notes
- Hardy but prone to stress behaviors in small groups.
- Good filtration helps with their higher activity and waste.
- Avoid overstocking to keep aggression down.
Cost and time
time: Low daily time; standard weekly maintenance.
cost: Moderate setup cost due to tank size and stocking needs.
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