 | francais   | | |  | Barbus Titteya (Cherry Barb) |  |
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 | Quick Ref. |  | |  Species: Barbus Titteya
| Geo. Location: Sri-Lanka
| PH: 6.5 - 7.5
| Temperature: 73 - 79F
| Water Hardness: 2 - 19dh
| Size: 2.0"
| Diet: Live/frozen/dry foods, algaes
| Difficulty: 2
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| Notes: Cherry Barbs are little freshwater fish found in the shaded waters of the heavily planted rivers and streams of Sri-lanka. Their body is brown/pinkish and they display red reflections when kept in the best conditions. These reflections are heavily accentuated during breeding season when the males are competing for a female. A black stripe stretches from the head to the caudal. Specimen found in the wild are usually much more colorful than the one kept in captivity.
Barbus Titteyas usually stay in the bottom of the tank. They like to scan the substrat for food. Not too exigent regarding their diet, it is however recommended to feed them live foods (bloodworms, brine shrimps) a few times a week. Algaes and vegetables can also be a good complement to their diet. Cherry Barbs are quite independant and should be kept in pairs. If kept in groups, be sure to add a lot of plants to the tank. Indeed, males are competitive and can be aggressive towards each other. When in groups, try to keep them in pairs (males/females) so they don't get too aggressive. Plants are also good to create hiding places for this shy and discreet fish. Cherry Barbs are also very active and it is important to keep them in a tank with long swimming areas.
Barbus Titteya can live in a wide range of water conditions and usually acclimate easily to any cycled tank. However water must be clean and sudden change in water chemistry should be avoided. Frequent water changes and good filtration system are strongly recommended.
A pair of cherry barbs should be kept in a tank no smaller than 20 gallons. They can be kept in specialty as well as community tanks as long as their tank mates are not too big and/or aggressive. The tank will be heavily planted with fine leaf plants (Cobomba) as well as bottom plants (Java Moss) and floating plants (Riccia Fluitans) to create shaded areas and diffuse the amount of lighting in the tank. A dark susbtrat and a good aeration system are also recommended. Strong water movement should be avoided. Cherry Barbs usually does not get bigger than 2 inches in captivity, a temperature range between 73 and 79F and a water hardness inferior to 19dH will provide a perfect environment for this little Cyprinidae.
| Breeding: Breeding Barbus Titteya is fairly easy for experienced egg-scatterer breeders. Sexual diphormism: males are slimmer/smaller and more colorful than females. Their fins are redish. Females are less colorful and their fins are yellowish. Furthermore, the dark stripe that goes from their head to tail is darker in females.
The key factor in breeding Cherry Barbs is the preparation they need to receive in order to be ready to spawn. Conditionning must be done by separating males and females during a 10 to 14 days period. Feed them heavily on live foods until the females start showing a rounder belly. It is then time to put the pair(s) together in the breeding tank.
The breeding tank should be approximately 10 gallons with only 5 to 10" of water. Java Moss, Cobomba and other fine leaf plants should create the decor in the tank for the parents to chase into and for the eggs to be laid on. Water should be soft to medium and temperature around 78F. Hiding places should be provided for the females to hide into when the males become too harrassing. The breeding tank will face a window where the first rays of the sun will hit the front glass in the morning.
The pair(s) should be introduced in the breeding tank at night because these fish usually spawn with the first rays of the sun. The males danse around the females and display their most beautiful colors. They become cherry when they are ready to spawn. Females become brown. 300 eggs are laid which hatch in approximately 30 hours. The eggs are laid all over the plants. The fry become free swimming after 4 to 5 days. After they absorb they yolk sac, start feeding the fry with infusoria then baby brine shrimps. Parents should be removed from the tank right after the spawning process. Fry grow quite slowly and frequent water changes help them to grow faster.
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| | Readers comments & pictures: Barbus Titteya | |
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| jamie - 2006-01-04 11:36:32 | | | | | hi, im planning on breeding this fish and you say to leav the pair in the tank over night but most of my sources say to take them out as early as you can. Also i already have some males in my community tank and i have a small bredding tank set up but no females. when i get the females should i put them in the breeding tank and wait a couple days then introduce the males? | | | | | | |
| Chris - 2007-04-27 19:28:29 | | | | | Are Cherry Barbs really that aggressive? Also, are they fin nipper? | | | | | | |
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