Cherry Barb

The Cherry Barb, Rohanella titteya (syn. Puntius titteya), is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka, where it is native to slow-flowing and weedy forest streams and rivers. In nature, the 4-5 cm large barb is considered endangered due to the progressive loss of habitat.

Care in the aquarium

Keeping this great fish is not very difficult as it gets along well with different water parameters and is quite robust. As a school fish that likes to swim, it should be kept in a group of at least 8-10 animals in the aquarium and needs an edge length of at least 80 cm. Ideally, 2 females are kept for each male. In a community tank, the Cherry Barb can be kept together with peaceful fish of about the same size, sometimes plucking at long fins. The socialization with long-finned fish should therefore be treated with caution. In addition, it appreciates dense planting and shelters in the form of roots, stone structures or tubes.

Feeding

The Cherry Barb is an omnivore and will take both dry and smaller live and frozen food. All commercially available types of food (flakes, granules, tablets) that contain plant-based components and that the Cherry Barb can handle are suitable for feeding. A varied feed is optimal.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

The cherry-red colored and slightly slimmer male Cherry Barbs are easily distinguishable from their female counterparts with yellow-brown coloring, silver-colored belly and only slightly red-colored fins. Both sexes have a dark brown to black longitudinal band, which is more pronounced in the females. The red coloring of the males is particularly intense during the mating season. To get this barbel in the mood to mate, it should be fed well. A temperature of around 25°C and soft, slightly acidic water are also optimal. Males ready to mate swim after the females and chase away competing males. A female can lay between 200 and 300 eggs. Cherry Barbs are free spawners, so the eggs are spawned freely on and between plants and the substrate. Rohanella titteya does not take care of the brood and is also a spawn predator, which is why a separate breeding tank is recommended for successful offspring. After 1-2 days, the larvae hatch, and after 2-3 days they are already swimming freely and can be fed with very small food such as Artemia nauplii or copepods.