CheckMyFishTankTiger Barb care
Puntigrus tetrazona · Freshwater · Beginner level care
A busy, striped schooling barb that needs a big group.
Feeding
Twice a day. A small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish. Flakes, small pellets, frozen foods.
Nips the fins of slow fish with long fins.
Good tank mates
Fish that pass every check with Tiger Barb in a 60 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.
Do not mix with
- Tinfoil Barb: Tinfoil Barb grows big enough to eat Tiger Barb.
- German Blue Ram: German Blue Ram and Tiger Barb need different water temperatures.
- Discus: Discus and Tiger Barb need different water temperatures.
- Oscar: Oscar grows big enough to eat Tiger Barb.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey grows big enough to eat Tiger Barb.
- Severum: Severum grows big enough to eat Tiger Barb.
- Green Terror: Green Terror grows big enough to eat Tiger Barb.
- Demasoni Cichlid: Demasoni Cichlid fight their own kind. Keep only one per tank.
Questions
What size tank does a Tiger Barb need?
At least 30 gallons for a group of 8. Adults grow to about 3 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.
What temperature does a Tiger Barb like?
72 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 6 to 7.5. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.
How many Tiger Barb should I keep together?
Keep 8 or more. They feel safe in a group and show better color and behavior.
What do Tiger Barb eat?
Flakes, small pellets, frozen foods. Feed twice a day: a small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.