{"product_id":"cherry-barb-puntius-titteya","title":"Cherry Barb | Puntius titteya","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Cherry Barb is a gentle little gem — settled males deepen to a glowing cherry-red, especially when displaying. Unusually peaceful for a barb and topping out around 5 cm, it is one of the best small shoalers for a calm, planted community and a reliable choice for beginners.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEndemic to shaded, slow-flowing forest streams and rivers of Sri Lanka. The water is soft, slightly acidic and stained with tannins, with overhanging cover, leaf litter and submerged roots giving the fish plenty of shade to retreat into.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA slim, torpedo-shaped barb marked with a dark lateral stripe. Males intensify to a rich red — deepest when courting or sparring for rank — while females are a warmer tan-brown with a lighter belly. Colour is strongest over a dark substrate in dim, planted surroundings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and rather shy, this is one of the few barbs that will not nip fins. It can be timid if kept singly or in small numbers, so keep a group of six or more — ideally with a few females per male — to see natural behaviour and good colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy-going omnivore. A staple of quality flake or micro pellets, supplemented with live and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm and the occasional vegetable food, keeps them healthy and richly coloured.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy and forgiving. Provide dense planting with open swimming lanes, some floating cover to soften the light, gentle filtration and stable, soft to neutral water. Routine water changes keep them at their best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that spawns among fine-leaved plants in soft, slightly acidic water. Parents readily eat their own eggs, so remove the adults after spawning. Fry hatch in a couple of days and take infusoria and microfoods before moving on to baby brine shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePuntius titteya\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCherry Barb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSri Lanka\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–7 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (active schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–15 dGH (soft to medium)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRasboras, tetras, other peaceful barbs, corydoras, dwarf gouramis, small loaches and dwarf shrimp large enough not to be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAggressive or much larger fish, fin-nippers, and boisterous species that will bully these timid barbs away from food.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232845250851,"sku":"AA1421","price":6.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Cherry_Barb_Male_1ddfeda2-5146-4230-98d3-1098853cf7a1.jpg?v=1781700480","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/cherry-barb-puntius-titteya","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}