Cherry barb size: how big does it get?

Adults reach about 5 cm. The smallest of the 7 Puntius species on LumaReef (Swamp Barb is the largest, 15 cm).

Cherry barb tank size: what is the minimum?

A tank at least 60 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Nano tank or larger.

Cherry barb water parameters: what does it need?

Temperature 22–27 °C, pH 6.5–7.8, hardness 5–19 °dGH. Warmer than most Puntius on LumaReef (18–26 °C).

Cherry barb tank mates: what can it live with?

It gets along with 80 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Emperor tetra, Zebra danio, and Platy.

Cherry barb: is it endangered?

The IUCN Red List rates it Vulnerable. Threatened among the 6 assessed Puntius species on LumaReef: 2.

FreshwaterIn the market70 coinsCommon

Cherry barb

Puntius titteya

The gentle barb, wandering through the plants in a loose group.

The Cherry barb (Puntius titteya) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. It swims in midwater, close to the bottom. Adults grow to about 5 cm. The IUCN Red List rates it Vulnerable. In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 60 cm long and water at 22–27 °C.

Size: 5 cm
Smallest tank: 60 cm
Temperature: 22–27 °C
Care: Easy

In the aquarium

Temperature22–27 °C

pH6.5–7.8

Hardness5–19 °dGH

Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Activity: Moderate
Water layer: Mid water
Group: Happiest in a group of 6 or more
Plants: Plant safe

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

Nano60 cm · 65 litres21 of them
Standard90 cm · 180 litres60 of them
Wide120 cm · 300 litres100 of them
Living room180 cm · 650 litres216 of them
Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres400 of them
Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres480 of them

Who it lives with

Gets along80 species

and 56 more species

Caution8 species

Narrow shared temperature range

Not together11 species

Aggressive with peaceful

Water temperatures do not overlap

In the wild

Water type: Freshwater
Climate zone: Tropical
Habitat: Midwater, close to the bottom
Aquarium trade: Very common

Conservation status

Classification

OrderCypriniformes
FamilyCyprinidae
GenusPuntius
SpeciesPuntius titteya
Described byDeraniyagala, 1929

In other languages

German: Bitterlingsbarbe
Spanish: Barbo cereza
Dutch: Sherrybarbeel
Russian: Вишнёвый барбус

Quick answers

Cherry barb size: how big does it get?: Adults reach about 5 cm. The smallest of the 7 Puntius species on LumaReef (Swamp Barb is the largest, 15 cm).
Cherry barb tank size: what is the minimum?: A tank at least 60 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Nano tank or larger.
Cherry barb water parameters: what does it need?: Temperature 22–27 °C, pH 6.5–7.8, hardness 5–19 °dGH. Warmer than most Puntius on LumaReef (18–26 °C).
Cherry barb tank mates: what can it live with?: It gets along with 80 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Emperor tetra, Zebra danio, and Platy.
Cherry barb: alone or in a group?: Keep at least 6 together.
Cherry barb and plants: is it plant safe?: Yes, it leaves plants alone.
Cherry barb: is it endangered?: The IUCN Red List rates it Vulnerable. Threatened among the 6 assessed Puntius species on LumaReef: 2.