Cherry barb
Encyclopedia
The cherry barb, Puntius titteya is a tropical fish
belonging to the spotted barb
genus of the Cyprinidae family. It is native to Sri Lanka
, and introduced populations
have become established in Mexico
and Colombia
. The cherry barb was named Puntius titteya by Paul E. P. Deraniyagala
in 1929. It has also been referred to as Barbus titteya and Capoeta titteya.
The species is commercially important in the aquarium trade, and the more colorful varieties are in danger of being overfished for this industry. They were listed as a Lower Risk/conservation dependent species in 1996.
is one of silt
with leaf
cover. They are from a tropical climate and prefer water with a pH
of 6.0 - 8.0, a water hardness (dH) of 5.0 - 19.0. and a temperature range of 73 - 81 °F (23 - 27 °C).
200 to 300 eggs and scatter them on plants and on the substrate. They tend to eat their eggs. The eggs hatch in 1 to 2 days and the fry will be free-swimming after 2 more days. After 5 weeks, the hatchlings will be about 1 cm long and easily identifiable as cherry barbs.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
belonging to the spotted barb
Puntius
Puntius is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. Fishes of this genus are known as the spotted barbs for the predominant pattern, though many have vertical black bands instead. Also, the Spotted Barb proper is one particular species, Puntius binotatus....
genus of the Cyprinidae family. It is native to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, and introduced populations
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
have become established in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. The cherry barb was named Puntius titteya by Paul E. P. Deraniyagala
Paul E. P. Deraniyagala
Dr. Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala was a paleontologist, zoologist, and also an artist from Sri Lanka. He specialised in fauna and human fossils of the Indian subcontinent. Between 1939 - 1963 he was the Director of the National Museum of Ceylon, and between 1961 - 64 he was also the Dean of...
in 1929. It has also been referred to as Barbus titteya and Capoeta titteya.
The species is commercially important in the aquarium trade, and the more colorful varieties are in danger of being overfished for this industry. They were listed as a Lower Risk/conservation dependent species in 1996.
Description
The cherry barb is an elongated fish with a relatively compressed body. It is fawn-colored on top with a slight greenish sheen. Its sides and belly have gleaming silver highlights. A horizontal stripe (brownish black to deep bluish black) extends from the tip of the snout through the eye to the base of the caudal fin. Above it is an iridescent, metallic line, gold at the front turning to blue or sea green toward the tail. Males are redder than females, and they attain a very deep red color when breeding. Often the dominant male will have the brightest red colour. Females are lighter, with yellowish fins. The cherry barb will grow to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in length.Habitat
The Cherry Barb's natural environment is one of heavily shaded, shallow, and calm waters. Their native substrateSubstrate (aquarium)
The substrate of an aquarium refers to the material used on the tank bottom. It can affect water chemistry, filtration, and the well-being of the aquarium's inhabitants, and is also an important part of the aquarium's aesthetic appeal...
is one of silt
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
with leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
cover. They are from a tropical climate and prefer water with a pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
of 6.0 - 8.0, a water hardness (dH) of 5.0 - 19.0. and a temperature range of 73 - 81 °F (23 - 27 °C).
In the aquarium
This peaceful cherry-red fish is most often kept in community tanks by fish keeping hobbyists. The cherry barb is a schooling fish and is best kept in groups of five or more individuals. The schools are often less discrete than with many types of barb. It is also best to keep a ratio of two females to one male. The male will constantly harass the females to breed, and by this ratio, it gives the females a small break. They live an average of 4 years, with a maximum lifespan of 5-7 years. They prefer a tank with abundant plants (about two-thirds to three-quarters of the tank), but they still need open space to swim. They tend to hide and will often withdraw under the cover of plants. Younger males are generally peaceful, but they can be aggressive in spawning with females. Appropriate tank mates include Rasbora and similar peaceful fish.Breeding
When breeding, males swim just behind females, and chase away rival males. Adult cherry barbs will spawnSpawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
200 to 300 eggs and scatter them on plants and on the substrate. They tend to eat their eggs. The eggs hatch in 1 to 2 days and the fry will be free-swimming after 2 more days. After 5 weeks, the hatchlings will be about 1 cm long and easily identifiable as cherry barbs.
External links
- The Aquarium Wiki care information for Cherry barbs
- Cherry Barb Fact Sheet