Tiger Barb Fish

Tiger barb, also known as Sumatra barb, is a popular species of tropical freshwater fish from Asia. It belongs to the Puntis Genus of the minnow family. Life span of the fish is up to 6 years. They can grow up to 7 cm long and 3 cm wide. Often found in the Asian region of Malay peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, these fish were imported in the United States in 1992 and have become one of the most popular pet fish of the United States.

The tiger barb prefers to remain in groups, so it is advisable that you have a big aquarium tank if you ever choose to have tiger barb at your place. They are aggressive tropical fish species and they form a shoal in a pecking order. If they are kept in large tanks, they are bound to cause problems for other group of fish staying in the aquarium. Injured fish should be kept away from tiger barb as they have the tendency to attack injured fish. Also fish who have long fins are not recommended as tiger barb fish tank mates get hurt due to their fin nipping tendencies.

Tiger Barb Care

As the tiger barb fish is a more active species of fish, it is necessary that you keep them in large groups. In order for their proper growth, they should be kept with members of their species. You can see them frequently engaging in racing games with each other. If kept alone in a water tank, it gradually loses all its features and becomes a dull and boring fish which prefers to stay behind plants and in dark corners. For survival it should be provided with good quality water and the water should be changed after regular intervals. For the aquarium make sure there's plenty of rocks for the tiger fish for hiding. Plants and vegetation shouldn't be kept in the center as it minimizes the moving space.

Tiger Barb Food

Tiger barbs are omnivorous which means they will eat anything and everything that will fit in their tiny mouth. They feed on plant matter, small worms and sometimes even on injured fish. Therefore, it is very important that the fish get a diet which consists of various foods such as vegetables and small pieces of meat. You can also feed them a high quality flake food, live or frozen foods.

Tiger Barb Breeding

Tiger barb fish are known to be very fertile and the population can double itself in not less than 13 months. The fish become ready for mating once they have reached a length of 3 cm. Female tiger barbs are larger than the male and have a big belly. It is best to give them a separate breeding aquarium as they prefer eating up their own and other fish eggs.

There are many people who often complain that their tiger fish are dying. The death of a tiger fish could be due to various causes. The water temperature should not be more than 68F to 77F. Make sure the water of the fish tank is either soft or medium hard. Not enough space for swimming is also one of the reasons of death. Always remember to place these fish in a group of 7 to 8, any less number will result in fierce competition among themselves in which they become predators for each other.

So this was all the information needed on tiger barb fish. It is insisted that tiger barbs be kept in groups if you really want them to thrive and make your aquarium a fun place.