Fish - Puntius titteya - Cherry Barb Barbus Titteya

The Puntius titteya, commonly known as the Cherry barb, is a small, very peaceful, and active species of barb originating from the shady rivers and streams of Sri Lanka. It is an ideal fish for those who wish to keep a colorful and lively fish in their aquarium.

The Cherry barb has a body length of about 4.5 cm, which is a perfect size for medium-sized aquariums. Males are brightly colored in red, while females are paler. Male sparring displays are spectacular but completely harmless. This species is also an ideal inhabitant of planted aquariums. Although they are not particularly sensitive to water parameters, their coloration is much more vivid in slightly acidic and soft water.

You can confidently keep the Puntius titteya with other small fish, making it an excellent choice for community aquariums. A minimum aquarium size of 50 liters is recommended, and typically, keeping six fish in a 70-liter tank is suggested. The aquarium should be decorated with dark substrate and plenty of plants, such as Water Crypt (Cryptocoryne) and Vallisneria species.

They are omnivores in their diet, accepting all kinds of food. Their breeding is easy, which is an additional advantage. The water temperature should be maintained between 24-26 °C, the pH value should be between 6.6-7, while the water hardness should range from 5.6-8.4 NK°. Their expected lifespan is 4-5 years, during which they enrich the aquarium environment with their colorful and active presence.