Large Tiger Barb (1.5”)

Scientific Name

Puntigrus tetrazona

Maximum Size & Lifespan

• Size: Up to 2.5-3 inches in captivity

• Lifespan: 5–7 years with proper care

Recommended Aquarium Size, Water Change & Care

• Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons for a small group, though 20 gallons or larger is best for a larger group/community setup

• Water Changes: 25–30% weekly to maintain water quality.

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 74–80°F 

  • pH: 6.0–7.5
    

• Care Level: Easy to moderate. They are hardy but require stable, clean water and should always be kept in groups.

Tankmates

Tiger barbs are active and semi-aggressive, especially fin-nippers. Best tankmates include:

• Other tiger barbs (keep in groups of 6+ to reduce aggression)

• Fast-moving or similarly sized schooling fish (rosy barbs, danios, silver dollars)

• Bottom dwellers like loaches and catfish (corydoras, plecos)

• Avoid: Slow-moving and long-finned species 

Diet

• Omnivorous: Eats both plant and animal matter.

• Staple Foods: High-quality flakes or small pellets.

• Supplements: Frozen or live foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia), blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, peas).

• Feeding: 2–3 times daily in small portions.

Overview

Tiger barbs are energetic, colorful fish popular for their striking black-striped orange-gold bodies. They thrive in schools, where their active shoaling behavior makes them lively centerpieces in community aquariums. Proper group size and plenty of swimming space reduce aggression and keep them healthy.

Natural Environment

• Origin: Native to Southeast Asia (Borneo, Sumatra, and surrounding regions).

• Habitat: Shallow, slow-moving rivers and streams with dense vegetation and sandy or muddy bottoms.

• Water: Slightly acidic to neutral, warm tropical freshwater.

Breeding

• Type: Egg scatterers; no parental care.

• Setup: Use a separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop and slightly warmer water (78–80°F / 25–27°C).

• Conditioning: Feed parents live and frozen foods to bring them into spawning condition.

• Process: Female scatters up to 200 eggs, which males fertilize. Remove adults after spawning to prevent egg predation.

• Hatching: Eggs hatch in about 24–36 hours; fry become free-swimming after 4–5 days.

• Feeding Fry: Infusoria or liquid fry food initially, followed by baby brine shrimp or finely crushed flakes.