Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona)

Quarantined barb for planted and community aquariums in Canada.

The Tiger Barb is a classic active schooling fish recognized for its orange body, black vertical bands, and energetic behaviour. It is best kept in a proper group and paired with fast, robust tankmates rather than long-finned slow fish.

Why This Fish Stands Out

• Classic striped barb with strong activity and personality
• Excellent schooling display in the right setup
• Hardy fish for energetic community aquariums

Aquarium Setup & Behaviour

Use a spacious aquarium with open swimming room, robust filtration, and fast-moving tankmates. Avoid long-finned fish such as fancy guppies, angelfish with long fins, or bettas.

Keep in a group of at least 6 whenever possible. Group size is one of the most important factors for reducing fin-nipping problems.

Feeding

Feed quality flakes or pellets with frozen/live foods and some vegetable content.

Natural Colour & Livestock Integrity

Colour comes from genetics, maturity, health, and proper conditioning. Topick Aquarium does not use hormones to artificially enhance fish colour.

Topick Aquarium Livestock Standard

All fish at Topick Aquarium are carefully quarantined and conditioned to our stable local tap water before sale. Although barbs and rasboras may come from different natural habitats, stable water, gradual acclimation, healthy feeding, and a mature aquarium matter more than chasing exact wild parameters.

Care Summary

• Scientific Name: Puntigrus tetrazona
• Adult Size: Approximately 6–7 cm
• Care Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Recommended Tank: Mature aquarium with open swimming space, stable filtration, and compatible active tankmates

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Tiger Barbs nip fins?
They can, especially if kept in small groups or with slow long-finned tankmates.

How many Tiger Barbs should I keep?
Six or more is strongly recommended, with larger groups often working better.

Are Tiger Barbs good beginner fish?
They are hardy, but tankmate selection and group size make them less simple than peaceful rasboras.

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