Tiger barb
Puntigrus tetrazona · family Cyprinidae
The tiger barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) is a lively freshwater fish from central and southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It's easy to care for, reaches about 2.2 to 2.7 inches, and needs a tank of at least 30 gallons with good filtration and plenty of oxygen. The most important thing to know is that tiger barbs are semi-aggressive fin nippers, so keep them in a group of at least 8 to keep the nipping aimed at each other.
Edited by Marin Hale · last reviewed October 29, 2026 · How we check facts
TropicalGroups of 8+
What can live with a tiger barb?
Verdicts against every species in our database, from our compatibility rules. How verdicts work
| Verdict | Species | Why | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good match | Neon tetra | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 30 gal+ |
| Good match | Another tiger barb | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 30 gal+ |
| Good match | Zebra nerite snail | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 30 gal+ |
| Maybe | Ember tetra | Tiger barbs can harass much smaller, peaceful ember tetras. | 30 gal+ |
| Maybe | Pygmy corydoras | Tiger barbs can harass much smaller, peaceful pygmy corydoras. | 30 gal+ |
| Avoid | Angelfish | Tiger barbs nip fins, and angelfish have long fins. | — |
| Avoid | Betta fish | Tiger barbs nip fins, and betta fish have long fins. | — |
| Avoid | Cherry shrimp | Tiger barbs will hunt and eat cherry shrimp. | — |
| Avoid | Common goldfish | Common goldfish need cool water; tiger barbs need tropical water. | — |
| Avoid | Fancy goldfish | Fancy goldfish need cool water; tiger barbs need tropical water. | — |
| Avoid | Guppy | Tiger barbs nip fins, and guppies have long fins. | — |
Setup and care
| Heater | Yes. Set an adjustable heater to 75–79°F (24–26°C); tiger barbs tolerate 72–80°F, and most rooms are cooler than that. |
|---|---|
| Feeding | Small live and frozen foods plus quality flakes/granules with some plant content |
| Substrate | Gravel works best; no substrate in breeding tank |
| Males vs females | Males smaller, slimmer, more intense colour than females |
| Male:female ratio | 1 male to 2 females (for breeding) |
| Breeding | Spawns often; fry may appear in a mature aquarium |
Watch out for
- Aggression pronounced when kept in too small a group or with limited space
- Many farmed fish are weak or deformed from inbreeding
- Stressed if kept alone
- Needs high oxygen / surface agitation
- Introduce last in a community tank or they become aggressive
- Overcrowding and overfeeding cause deaths
Care tips
- Keep at least 8 tiger barbs of the same colour variety together, because too few fish leads to aggression toward weaker tank mates and a lone fish gets stressed.
- Give them a tank of at least 30 gallons with good filtration, since cramped space makes aggression worse.
- Keep the water between 72 and 80°F (75 to 79°F is ideal), and use surface agitation so oxygen stays high.
- Feed small portions only, because overcrowding and overfeeding cause deaths.
Questions
Do tiger barbs need a heater?
Tiger barbs are tropical fish that tolerate water from 72 to 80°F, and 75 to 79°F is ideal. If your room can't hold the tank in that range, a heater is how you'd keep it there.
What do tiger barbs eat?
They're omnivores. Feed small live and frozen foods along with quality flakes or granules that have some plant content. Don't overfeed, as that can cause deaths.
What fish can live with tiger barbs?
Neon tetras, zebra nerite snails and other tiger barbs are all fine tank mates. Ember tetras and pygmy corydoras need caution, because tiger barbs can harass them. Avoid angelfish, betta fish, guppies and fancy goldfish, which have long fins that tiger barbs nip. Also avoid common goldfish, which need cool water, and cherry shrimp, which tiger barbs will hunt and eat. Add tiger barbs to a community tank last, or they become aggressive.
How many tiger barbs should I keep together?
Keep at least 8, and stick to one colour variety in the shoal. Aggression is pronounced in a group that's too small or in a tank with limited space.
How can I tell male and female tiger barbs apart?
Males are smaller, slimmer and more intensely coloured than females. For breeding, use 1 male to 2 females. They're egg scatterers with no parental care, and they spawn often, so fry may appear in a mature aquarium.
Sources
Each value is cross-checked across the references below. Where they disagreed, an editor chose a value and recorded why.
- Puntigrus tetrazona (Seriously Fish) (www.seriouslyfish.com)
- Barbs Care Sheet (www.aqueon.com)
- Fish Profiles – How to Keep Tiger Barb Fish (www.hygger-online.com)
- Complete Guide to Raising Tiger Barbs (Barbus Tetrazona) (en.aqua-fish.net)
- GBIF taxonomy record
- Wikidata entry
Where each value comes from (21 facts)
| Fact | What each source says |
|---|---|
| Temperature editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “Temperature: 20 – 26 °C68 – 79 °F” hygger-online.com: “Water temperature: 75-80℉” en.aqua-fish.net: “a temperature range of 72°F-82°F (22°C-28°C) are ideal” |
| pH editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “pH: 5.0 – 8.0; commercial strains tend to be adaptable, but acidic to neutral conditions are recommended for wild stock.” hygger-online.com: “pH level: 6.0-8.0” en.aqua-fish.net: “a slightly acidic pH (around 6.0-7.0)” |
| Adult size | seriouslyfish.com: “Max size 60mm SL2.4in SL” hygger-online.com: “Size 2–3 inches” |
| Smallest tank editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “Volume ~72litres~19US gal” aqueon.com: “Tiger, rosy and black ruby barbs require a minimum of 30 gallons” hygger-online.com: “Minimum tank size 20 gallons” en.aqua-fish.net: “aim for a minimum of 18 gallons (~ 68 liters, 15 Imperial gallons) for six Tiger Barbs” |
| Group size editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “A group of at least 8-10 specimens should be considered the minimum purchase” hygger-online.com: “it is better to keep them in groups of 6 or more” en.aqua-fish.net: “Ideally, they should be kept in shoals of five or six fish.” |
| Temperament editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “This species is notoriously aggressive with a reputation for biting the fins of other fishes” hygger-online.com: “Temperament Semi-aggressive” en.aqua-fish.net: “Tiger Barbs are naturally aggressive.” |
| Fin-nipper | seriouslyfish.com: “This species is notoriously aggressive with a reputation for biting the fins of other fishes” aqueon.com: “largely due to the behavior of a few types like tiger barbs, rosy barbs and black ruby barbs” hygger-online.com: “tiger barbs are fin nippers. They would nip tank mates’ fins.” en.aqua-fish.net: “Tiger Barbs are known for fin-nipping.” |
| Care level | seriouslyfish.com: “Difficulty6 of 8 measures Easy” hygger-online.com: “tiger barbs are easy to care for, so they are good beginner fish” |
| Diet | seriouslyfish.com: “Probably an omnivore feeding primarily on aquatic invertebrates” hygger-online.com: “tiger barbs are omnivores. As for the diet, they are not picky.” |
| Breeding type | seriouslyfish.com: “Puntigrus spp. are egg-scattering free spawners exhibiting no parental care.” hygger-online.com: “tiger barbs are egg scatters, and they may eat their eggs.” en.aqua-fish.net: “Tiger Barbs are egg scatterers, so be ready to remove the parents after spawning” |
| Native to | seriouslyfish.com: “probably endemic to central and southern Sumatra, Indonesia” hygger-online.com: “Origin Asia” en.aqua-fish.net: “due to its origins in Sumatra and Borneo” |
| Hardness (GH) editor decision | seriouslyfish.com: “Hardness: 1 – 20 dGH. Wild fish will do best towards the lower end of this range.” hygger-online.com: “Hardness level: 10 dGH” |
| Telling males from females | seriouslyfish.com: “Adult males tend to be smaller, slimmer, and possess a more intense colour pattern than females.” hygger-online.com: “Female tiger barbs are larger and rounder than male ones.” en.aqua-fish.net: “Mature males develop red noses and red markings on their dorsal and ventral fins, whereas females remain less colorful.” |
| Feeding | seriouslyfish.com: “regular meals of small live and frozen foods such as chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Daphnia, and Artemia, alongside good quality dried flakes and granules” hygger-online.com: “It is feasible to feed them twice a day. And you should make sure that they finish eating within 2–3 minutes.” |
| Breeding | seriouslyfish.com: “When in good condition they will spawn often, and in a mature aquarium it is possible that small numbers of fry may start to appear” hygger-online.com: “it is necessary to set up a separate breeding tank. And you should remove the tiger barbs from the breeding tank after spawning.” en.aqua-fish.net: “be ready to remove the parents after spawning to prevent them from eating the eggs. The fry will hatch within 3-5 days” |
| Lifespan | hygger-online.com: “Lifespan 5–7 years” |
| Water type | hygger-online.com: “Tiger barbs are one kind of popular tropical freshwater fish.” |
| Eats shrimp/snails editor decision | en.aqua-fish.net: “Tank mates like rasboras, young livebearers, and small crustaceans are at risk of being nipped or eaten.” |
| Safe with plants | en.aqua-fish.net: “Although they don’t damage plants, they appreciate having tall plants on the sides and background for cover.” |
| Male:female ratio | en.aqua-fish.net: “ideally 1:2 (males:females)” |
| Substrate | en.aqua-fish.net: “When it comes to substrate, gravel works best.” |
Editor decisions (7)
- Seriously Fish 68–79°F, Hygger 75–80°F, Aqua-Fish 72–82°F; 72–80°F fits all three.
- Seriously Fish: commercial strains adapt to 5.0–8.0; Hygger 6.0–8.0.
- Sources give 18–30 gallons; a group of 8+ active barbs needs about 30.
- Seriously Fish recommends 8+; smaller groups nip tank mates more.
- Seriously Fish calls them aggressive; Hygger, semi-aggressive. Their aggression is fin-nipping and chasing, which a group of 8+ spreads out.
- Seriously Fish: 1–20 dGH, lower end for wild fish; commercial strains are adaptable.
- Aqua-Fish: small crustaceans are at risk of being eaten.