Quick answer: Cherry barbs (Rohanella titteya, formerly Puntius titteya) are small, peaceful barbs from Sri Lanka that grow to about 2 inches (5 cm) and live 4 to 6 years. Keep a group of at least 6 in a planted tank of 20 gallons or more, at 73 to 81 F with pH 6.0 to 7.5. Males turn deep cherry red, while females are tan with a dark side stripe. They’re hardy, easy to feed and easy to breed, which makes them one of the best barbs for beginners. What most people get wrong is thinking all barbs are fin nippers. Cherry barbs aren’t. The real mistake is keeping them with tiger barbs or in a bare tank, where they hide and lose their color.
Cherry barb at a glance
| Detail | Cherry barb |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Rohanella titteya (formerly Puntius titteya) |
| Origin | Shaded forest streams in Sri Lanka |
| Adult size | About 1.5 to 2 in (4 to 5 cm) |
| Lifespan | 4 to 6 years, sometimes up to 7 |
| Temperature | 73 to 81 F (23 to 27 C) |
| pH | 6.0 to 7.5, tolerates up to about 8.0 |
| Hardness | Soft to moderately hard, about 4 to 15 dGH |
| Minimum tank | 20 gal (75 L) for a group of 6 to 8 |
| Group size | 6 or more, with more females than males |
| Temperament | Peaceful. Males spar with each other but rarely cause harm |
| Swimming level | Middle and lower |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Breeding | Easy egg scatterer |
| Care level | Easy |
| Wild status | Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Aquarium fish are farm-bred |
Cherry barb vs tiger barb vs rosy barb vs odessa barb: are cherry barbs aggressive?
| Barb | Adult size | Temperament | Fin nipping | Minimum tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry barb | 2 in | Peaceful, a little shy | Rare | 20 gal |
| Tiger barb | 3 in | Boisterous and nippy | Common, especially in small groups | 20 to 30 gal long |
| Rosy barb | 4 to 6 in | Active, mostly peaceful | Sometimes | 30 to 55 gal |
| Odessa barb | 3 in | Active, mostly peaceful | Sometimes | 30 gal |
| Gold barb | 3 in | Active, mostly peaceful | Occasional | 30 gal |
Here’s the honest part most cherry barb guides leave out. Cherry barbs aren’t aggressive, but they are shy. A bare tank, bright light and pushy tank mates make them hide, turn pale and stop showing the red you bought them for. Give them plants, shade and a few calm schooling neighbors, and they spend the day in the open. Also, never keep them with tiger barbs. Tiger barbs chase and nip calmer barbs, and cherry barbs get the worst of it.
Appearance and how to tell males from females
| Feature | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Bright to deep cherry red, strongest when displaying | Tan, beige or light orange |
| Side stripe | Faint or hidden by red | Clear dark horizontal stripe |
| Body shape | Slimmer | Rounder belly, especially when carrying eggs |
| Fins | Red | Clear to pale yellow, sometimes with a little red |
Young cherry barbs all look like females. Males start to color up at about 1 inch. You’ll also see captive-bred color forms sold as “albino,” “gold” or “orange” cherry barbs. They need the same care.
Cherry barb tank setup
Tank size. 20 gallons is the minimum for a group of 6 to 8. A 20 gallon long is ideal because they like swimming length. A 10 gallon tank is too small for a proper group as adults.
Plants. Plant heavily, especially along the back and sides. Easy low light plants like anubias, java moss, hornwort and crypts work well. Floating plants soften the light and make them feel safe.
Substrate. A dark sand or fine gravel makes the males’ red pop and helps them relax.
Lighting. Low to moderate. They come from shaded streams.
Flow. Gentle to moderate. A hang-on-back or sponge filter is fine.
Lid. They can jump when startled, so keep the tank covered.
Cycled tank. Add them only after the tank is fully cycled. Our how to cycle a fish tank guide walks you through it.
Water parameters
| Parameter | Ideal range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 73 to 81 F (23 to 27 C) |
| pH | 6.0 to 7.5 |
| General hardness | 4 to 15 dGH |
| Ammonia and nitrite | 0 ppm |
| Nitrate | Under 20 to 40 ppm |
| Water change | 25 to 30 percent weekly |
Stable water matters more than hitting an exact pH. Farm-bred cherry barbs adapt to most tap water in the ranges above.
What do cherry barbs eat?
Cherry barbs are omnivores and not picky. A varied diet keeps the males at their reddest.
- Staple: a good flake or micro pellet
- 2 to 3 times a week: frozen or live daphnia, brine shrimp or bloodworms
- Now and then: blanched spinach, zucchini or spirulina-based food
Feed once or twice a day, only what they finish in about 2 minutes.
How many cherry barbs should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, and more is better. Aim for roughly 1 male to 2 females, such as 2 males and 4 females, or 3 males and 6 females.
Why the ratio matters. Males compete for females. With too many males, they spend all day chasing each other and the females. With extra females, the displays spread out and everyone stays calmer, and the males show more color.
Do they school? Loosely. Cherry barbs shoal together when nervous and spread out when relaxed. That’s normal.
Cherry barb tank mates
| Good tank mates | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Harlequin rasboras, ember tetras, neon tetras | Tiger barbs, which bully them |
| Galaxy rasboras | Large cichlids like the green terror |
| Pygmy corydoras and panda corydoras | Kissing gouramis and other big, pushy fish |
| Honey gouramis | Fish big enough to eat a 2 inch barb |
| Otocinclus and bristlenose plecos in larger tanks | Very fast, boisterous fish that outcompete them for food |
| Nerite snails and mystery snails | |
| Amano shrimp |
Cherry barbs with bettas. It can work in a 20 gallon or larger planted tank, since cherry barbs rarely nip. Watch closely for the first week, and separate them if the betta flares constantly or the barbs pick at its fins.
Cherry barbs with cherry shrimp. Adult cherry shrimp are usually left alone, but the barbs will eat baby shrimp. In a heavily planted tank with lots of moss, enough shrimplets survive to keep a colony going. Amano shrimp are big enough to be safe.
Looking for more easy fish to pair them with? See our best aquarium fish for beginners guide.
Cherry barb breeding
Cherry barbs are one of the easiest egg-laying fish to breed. In a planted community tank, you may find babies without trying.
- Set up a breeding tank. A 5 to 10 gallon tank with a sponge filter, a heater and a thick clump of java moss or a spawning mop.
- Condition the pair. Feed the males and females extra frozen or live food for 1 to 2 weeks. Females get visibly round.
- Raise the temperature a little. 78 to 80 F (26 to 27 C) helps trigger spawning.
- Add one male and one or two females. Spawning usually happens in the morning. The male turns deep red and leads the female into the plants.
- Remove the adults after spawning. Females scatter about 200 to 300 sticky eggs over the plants, and adults will eat the eggs if left in.
- Wait for hatching. Eggs hatch in 1 to 2 days. The fry live off their yolk sacs and become free-swimming about 2 days later.
- Feed the fry. Start with infusoria or vinegar eels, then move to baby brine shrimp after about a week. Fry reach about 1 cm in 5 weeks.
Common cherry barb problems
Pale, washed-out color. Stress from a bare tank, bright light, too few females or pushy tank mates. Add plants and floaters, and adjust the male to female ratio.
Hiding all the time. Normal for the first week or two. If it continues, the group is too small or the tank is too open.
Males chasing each other. Normal sparring. If one male is cornered and torn up, add more females or more plants to break the line of sight.
White spots on the body. Usually ich. Raise the temperature slowly to about 80 to 82 F and treat with an ich medication.
Fish jumping out. No lid, or something startled them. Keep the tank covered.
Eggs disappearing. The adults ate them. Use a separate breeding tank or a thick mat of moss.
Female very swollen. Usually just eggs. If her scales stick out like a pinecone, that’s dropsy, so separate her and check your water quality.
FAQ
Are cherry barbs aggressive?
No. Cherry barbs are among the most peaceful barbs. Males spar with each other, but they rarely nip other fish.
How big do cherry barbs get?
About 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) as adults.
How long do cherry barbs live?
Usually 4 to 6 years with good care, and sometimes up to 7.
How many cherry barbs should be kept together?
At least 6, with about 1 male for every 2 females.
What size tank do cherry barbs need?
A 20 gallon tank or larger for a group of 6 to 8. A 20 gallon long is ideal.
Can cherry barbs live with shrimp?
Adult shrimp are usually safe, but cherry barbs eat baby shrimp. Lots of moss helps some shrimplets survive, and Amano shrimp are big enough to be safe.
Can cherry barbs live with tiger barbs?
It’s not a good idea. Tiger barbs are faster and nippier, and they often bully cherry barbs.
Are cherry barbs good for beginners?
Yes. They’re hardy, peaceful, easy to feed and adapt to most tap water, which makes them a great first barb.
1 Comment
Cherry Shrimp Care Guide Colors Breeding and Tank Mates · October 19, 2026 at 5:24 pm
[…] any fish that can fit a baby shrimp in its mouth will eat one. Small fish like galaxy rasboras, cherry barbs and bettas usually leave adults alone but pick off shrimplets. For the biggest colony, keep cherry […]
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