Barbs are energetic, hardy, and colourful fish within the minnow household Cyprinidae. They’re all education fish that do finest if stored in teams of not less than 5 or extra, so preserve that in thoughts when contemplating tank measurement for these fish. Most barbs want tender acidic water that’s effectively aerated and a bit on the cooler aspect.
As a result of barbs are so energetic, tank mates ought to solely be species that may tolerate boisterous companions. Lengthy-finned fish, specifically, are normally not the perfect tank mates for some, such because the tiger barb. Nevertheless, selective breeding has produced long-fin styles of many barb species, together with the tiger barb! The next barb species overviews will aid you select one that’s best for you.
-
Table of Contents
Black Ruby Barb
:strip_icc():format(webp)/Ruby_Barb_DigitalCanvas72-56a32fd13df78cf7727c4c4a.jpg)
Comparable in form to the favored Tiger Barb, the male Black Ruby Barb assumes a putting deep pink colour when reaching breeding age. Peaceable and straightforward to take care of, they need to be stored in faculties of 5 or extra. They give the impression of being significantly enticing when stored with barbs having vertical stripes, such because the Tiger Barb.
- Scientific identify: Pethia nigrofasciatus
- Often known as: Purple-headed barb or ruby barb
- Grownup measurement: 2.5 inches/6.5 centimeters
- Lifespan: 5 years
- Minimal tank measurement: 20 gallon
- pH: 6.0 to six.5
- Hardness: 5 to 12 dGH
- Temperature: 72 to 79 F/23 to 26 C
- Tankmates: Peaceable education fish
-
Denison Barb
![Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii]()
:strip_icc():format(webp)/Puntius_denisonii_Mark_Connell_800-56a32eef5f9b58b7d0d0d8fe.jpg)
A bigger Barb, this species ought to solely be stored with fish of comparable measurement. As a result of they’re massive and education fish, they’re solely appropriate for bigger aquariums. Even when the specimens within the store are small, remember the fact that they’ll develop a lot bigger.
- Scientific identify: Sahyadria denisonii
- Often known as: Bleeding Eye Barb, Denison’s Flying Fox, Purple Comet Barb, Purple Line Barb, Purple Lined Torpedo Fish, Roseline Shark, Torpedo Barb, Miss Kerala
- Grownup measurement: 6 inches/15 centimeters
- Lifespan: 5+ years
- Minimal tank measurement: 55 gallon
- pH: 6.8 to 7.8
- Hardness: 5 to 25 dGH
- Temperature: 60 to 77 F/15 to 25 C
- Tankmates: Peaceable with equally sized fish
-
Gold Barb
![golden barb (schuberti barb, puntius semifasciolatus) in a home aquarium]()
:strip_icc():format(webp)/golden-barb--schuberti-barb--puntius-semifasciolatus--in-a-home-aquarium-1195762587-ce796273eb2943e795bcad5bc842298f.jpg)
Gold Barbs are a hardy group fish that is simple to take care of. In nature they’re inexperienced, however the gold-colored hybrid has grow to be so common that it’s normally the one colour obtainable on the market. They need to be stored in faculties of a half dozen or extra, and so they get together with different peaceable fish.
- Scientific identify: Barbodes semifasciolatus
- Often known as: China Barb, Chinese language Barb, Chinese language Half-Striped Barb, Gold Barb, Inexperienced Barb, Half Banded Barb, Half-Stripes Barb, Schubert’s Barb, Six-Banded Banded Barb
- Grownup measurement: 3 inches/7.5 centimeters
- Lifespan: 5 years
- Minimal tank measurement: 20 gallon
- pH: 6.0 to eight.0
- Hardness: 10 dGH
- Temperature: 64 to 75 F/18 to 24 C
- Tankmates: Peaceable education fish
-
Rosy Barb
![Puntius conchonius - Rosy Barb]()
:strip_icc():format(webp)/Puntius_conchonius_Dornenwolf-56a32ff15f9b58b7d0d0dfd6.jpg)
Rosy Barbs are one of many extra common of the bigger Barb species. They’re very tolerant of water circumstances and do effectively in a newly arrange aquarium, making them a preferred first fish. They do have a repute for nipping different fish, so do not preserve them with sluggish species, significantly if these have lengthy trailing fins.
- Scientific identify: Pethia conchonius
- Often known as: Purple Barb
- Grownup measurement: 6 inches/15 centimeters
- Lifespan: 5 years
- Minimal tank measurement: 30 gallon
- pH: 6.5
- Hardness: 10 dGH
- Temperature: 64 to 72 F/18 to 22 C
- Tankmates: Peaceable education fish
Proceed to five of seven under -
Tiger Barb
![Tiger Barb - Barbus tetrazona]()
:strip_icc():format(webp)/Tiger_Barb_2_Kai_Schreiber_800-56a32f353df78cf7727c487b.jpg)
Simply probably the most recognizable of the Barb household, Tigers are extraordinarily common for residence aquariums. Additionally they are well-known for his or her tendency to nip fins, significantly these of slower-moving fish. Because of this, they aren’t suited to all group aquariums. They’re finest stored in massive faculties with different energetic Barb species of comparable measurement. Along with the wild coloration, they arrive in albino, golden, inexperienced and different colour varieties, and with brief or lengthy fins. They’ve additionally been modified with Cnidaria genes to have fluorescent colours.
- Scientific identify: Puntigrus tetrazona
- Grownup measurement: 3 inches/7 centimeters
- Lifespan: 6 years
- Minimal tank measurement: 20 gallon
- pH: 6.5
- Hardness: 10 dGH
- Temperature: 68 to 79 F/20 to 26 C
- Tankmates: Lively education fish that nips fins
-
Tinfoil Barb
![Tinfoil Barb]()
:strip_icc():format(webp)/tinfoil_barb_LG-56a32dc93df78cf7727c3bbe.jpg)
Tinfoil Barbs are the biggest member of the Barb household. Sadly, they’re usually solely an inch or two lengthy when offered, and many homeowners don’t know how massive they develop. They need to solely be stored in massive tanks of 55 gallons or extra with different massive species of fish. They make good companions with massive cichlids or different massive species corresponding to Silver {Dollars}.
- Scientific identify: Barbonymus schwanenfeldii
- Often known as: Schwanefeld’s Barb
- Grownup measurement: 14 inches/35 centimeters
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Minimal tank measurement: 55 gallon
- pH: 6.5-7.0
- Hardness: 10 dGH
- Temperature: 72 to 77 F/22 to 25 C
- Tankmates: Peaceable, however preserve solely with massive fish
-
Zebra Barb
![Zebra Barb]()
:strip_icc():format(webp)/Zebra_Barb_500-56a32dba3df78cf7727c3b30.jpg)
A gorgeous and peaceable member of the Barb household, this species isn’t as usually seen on the market. Not like many members of this household, the Zebra Barb has horizontal stripes moderately than vertical bands, giving rise to the identify Zebra. Though they aren’t extraordinarily massive, they’re fairly energetic and subsequently require a bigger aquarium to permit for swimming house.
- Scientific identify: Desmopuntius johorensis
- Often known as: Striped Barb
- Grownup measurement: 4.25 inches/12 centimeters
- Lifespan: 5+ years
- Minimal tank measurement: 30 gallon
- pH: 5.8 to six.3
- Hardness: 2 to three dGH
- Temperature: 73 to 77 F/23 to 25 C
- Tankmates: Peaceable education fish
Now that you just’re extra aware of completely different species of Barbs, you can make an knowledgeable determination on including one or a number of species to your tank. Since they’re all education fish, that you must have room for 5 to 6 or extra of every species that’s added into your aquarium. If they don’t seem to be the proper selection in your present household of fish, preserve them in thoughts for the longer term—particularly if you happen to plan on including a bigger aquarium to your assortment.