Tiger Barb – LM Pet Shop

Your Cart

Here is a complete care guide and profile for the popular and active Tiger Barb – a favorite among freshwater aquarium enthusiasts.


🐟 Tiger Barb – Full Details & Care Guide


Common Names:

  • Tiger Barb

  • Sumatra Barb

  • Albino Tiger Barb (color morph)

  • Green Tiger Barb / Moss Barb (color morph)


🔬 Scientific Classification:

Category Details
Scientific Name Puntigrus tetrazona
Family Cyprinidae
Origin Southeast Asia (Sumatra, Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia)

🎨 Appearance & Color Variants:

Feature Description
Body Color Golden to orange-yellow body with 4 bold black vertical stripes
Fins Red/orange with black edging
Body Shape Stout and deep-bodied; slightly flat sides
Size Up to 2.5–3 inches (6–7.5 cm)
Lifespan 5–7 years with proper care

🔄 Popular Color Morphs:

  • ✅ Albino Tiger Barb (white/golden with faint stripes)

  • ✅ Green (Moss) Tiger Barb (dark green sheen, almost solid)

  • ✅ Glo Tiger Barb (fluorescent varieties – dyed or genetically modified)


🌡️ Water Parameters:

Parameter Ideal Range
Temperature 22–28°C (72–82°F)
pH Level 6.0 – 7.5
Water Hardness 4 – 10 dGH
Ammonia/Nitrite 0 ppm
Tank Type Freshwater

⚠️ Tiger barbs are hardy, but they thrive best in clean, stable conditions.


🏡 Tank Setup:

Feature Recommendation
Tank Size Minimum 20 gallons (larger is better)
Substrate Dark gravel or sand
Aquascape Plants, rocks, driftwood, open swimming space
Lighting Moderate to bright
Filtration Strong, well-cycled filter (barbs are messy eaters)
Heater Required for tropical setup
Tank Cover Recommended – they may jump when startled

🐠 Tiger Barbs are schooling fish. Keep 6 or more to reduce aggression.


🧬 Temperament & Behavior:

Aspect Details
Temperament Semi-aggressive, energetic
Social Behavior Very active, fin-nippers when kept alone or in small groups
Best Kept In groups of 6–10+ to spread aggression
Tank Position Middle of the tank
Compatibility Mixed community with caution (avoid long-finned fish)

⚠️ Avoid housing with slow-moving or long-finned fish like bettas, angelfish, or guppies.


🍽️ Feeding Guide:

Food Type Examples
Staple Diet High-quality tropical flakes or pellets
Protein Foods Bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp (live/frozen)
Vegetable Matter Spirulina flakes, blanched spinach or peas
Feeding Frequency 2–3 small feedings per day

✅ Omnivorous – enjoys both plant and protein matter for best health and color.


🐣 Breeding Tiger Barbs:

Feature Description
Breeding Type Egg scatterer
Spawning Setup Separate breeding tank with marbles or mesh bottom
Spawning Trigger Increase temperature slightly (around 26–28°C) and condition with live foods
Egg Count 100–300+ eggs per spawn
Parental Behavior Will eat own eggs/fry – remove adults after spawning
Fry Care Feed infusoria or powdered fry food; switch to baby brine shrimp as they grow

🤝 Suitable Tank Mates:

✅ Good Tank Mates ❌ Avoid These
Zebra Danios Bettas
Rosy Barbs Angelfish
Tetras (fast species) Guppies
Corydoras Discus
Rainbowfish Slow, long-finned fish
Loaches Shrimp (may be harassed)

✅ Best results in species-only tanks or with fast, short-finned companions.


🧼 Maintenance Tips:

  • 🔄 Weekly water changes (25–30%)

  • 🧪 Regularly test pH, ammonia, nitrate levels

  • 🍃 Trim plants, vacuum substrate to reduce waste

  • 🌡️ Keep temperature consistent with a good heater


🌟 Highlights & Fun Facts:

  • 🐅 Named after tiger stripes – iconic look in freshwater aquariums

  • 🎮 Incredibly playful and active swimmers – constant movement

  • 👥 Aggression is reduced when kept in larger schools (6 or more)

  • 🔁 Easy to breed but needs a separate spawning tank

  • 💎 Hardy fish, perfect for intermediate hobbyists and community tanks with care


IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.

We process orders on all weekdays (Monday to Saturday), excluding public holidays.

To avail free shipping, purchase amount should be Rs350/-(for Aquarium Accessories and Aquatic Plants) or more, less than the above amount shipping charges applicable Rs70/- only. For live fish delivery charges applicable at the time of checkout.

Orders are normally Shipped within 1-2 days and usually take 2-5 working days to be delivered based on your location. However, you will receive an approximate timeline when you place your order.

To ensure that your order reaches you quickly and in good condition, we only ship through reputed courier agencies.

Let us know abour your query!