Cherry barb

The cherry barb (Puntius titteya) is a small, peaceful cyprinid endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is restricted to the Kelani and Nilwala river basins in the southwestern 'wet zone'. This species inhabits shaded, slow-moving forest streams with sandy substrates covered by leaf litter and fallen branches. Water in its natural habitat is soft and slightly acidic with relatively cool temperatures, as little sunlight penetrates the dense canopy. The cherry barb has long been a staple of the aquarium hobby and is among the most ubiquitous small cyprinids in the trade, with the vast majority of specimens now commercially farmed rather than wild-collected.

Measuring up to 5 cm (2 in) in standard length, the cherry barb is a schooling species that should be maintained in groups of at least 6–10 specimens. Males are noticeably slimmer and more vividly coloured than females, particularly when in spawning condition, developing a deep cherry-red hue along the body. Several ornamental strains have been developed through selective breeding, including albino and 'super red' forms. A well-planted aquarium with a dark substrate and some floating plants helps bring out the best colouration in these fish.

In the aquarium, cherry barbs are adaptable and undemanding, accepting a varied diet of quality dried flakes and granules supplemented with small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia, and Artemia. They are an ideal choice for beginners and community aquaria, mixing well with other small cyprinids, tetras, livebearers, rainbowfishes, anabantoids, catfishes, and loaches. Water temperature should be maintained between 20–27°C, pH 6.0–8.0, with a tank of at least 50 L (13 gal) for a small group.