Tiger barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Photo: Горбунова М.С. · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tank length
- 75 cm30 in
- Group
- 8+
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C68–79 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 6 cm2 in
- Lifespan
- 3–6 yrs
Do not mix with long-finned or slow-moving fish.Do not mix with long-finned or slow-moving fish.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Guppy
Tiger barb may nip the long fins of GuppyTiger barb may nip the long fins of Guppy
Pearl gouramiTiger barb may nip the long fins of Pearl gouramiTiger barb may nip the long fins of Pearl gourami
AngelfishTiger barb may nip the long fins of AngelfishTiger barb may nip the long fins of Angelfish
BettaTiger barbs nip a betta's long finsTiger barbs nip a betta's long fins
- Blue lyretail
Tiger barb may nip Blue lyretailTiger barb may nip Blue lyretail
Congo tetraTiger barb may nip Congo tetraTiger barb may nip Congo tetra
- Featherfin squeaker
Tiger barb may nip Featherfin squeakerTiger barb may nip Featherfin squeaker
- Filament barb
Tiger barb may nip Filament barbTiger barb may nip Filament barb
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Threadfin rainbowfishTiger barb may nip Threadfin rainbowfishTiger barb may nip Threadfin rainbowfish
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Tiger barbAfrican knifefish may eat Tiger barb
- African pike
African pike may eat Tiger barbAfrican pike may eat Tiger barb
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 20–26 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Asia or captive aquarium strains | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | semi aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 3–6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 75 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |