Cherry Barbs, also known as cherry red barbs, are small, peaceful fish that make a great addition to your aquarium. They grow up to 2 inches long and have a bright red color, especially the males. These fish come from Sri Lanka and are perfect for community tanks.
Size: Up to 2 inches (5 cm)
Temperament: Peaceful and friendly
Lifespan: 5 to 7 years
Diet: Omnivorous; enjoys flakes, live, and freeze-dried foods
Ideal Water Temperature: 72–80°F (22–27°C)
pH Range: 6.0–8.0
Tank Setup: Cherry barbs thrive in tanks with plenty of plants and places to hide. A darker tank bottom and background can help show off their bright red colors. Adding natural items like driftwood can make them feel more at home.
Social Needs: They are happiest in groups of at least six. Keeping more females than males can help the males show their best colors.
Tank Mates: Cherry barbs get along well with other peaceful fish like tetras, danios, and cory catfish. They usually swim in the middle to bottom parts of the tank.
These fish are not picky eaters. They enjoy a mix of dry, frozen, and live foods. Because they have small mouths, it's best to give them small-sized foods like nano pellets, daphnia, and spirulina flakes. Foods with natural red ingredients, like krill flakes and baby brine shrimp, can help keep their colors bright.
Cherry barbs are easy to breed. They lay eggs on plants and the tank bottom. To protect the eggs, provide lots of plants or a special breeding setup. Once the eggs are laid, it's a good idea to move the adult fish to another tank so they don't eat the eggs.
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