{"product_id":"longfin-cherry-barb-puntius-titteya","title":"Longfin Cherry Barb | Puntius titteya","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Longfin Cherry Barb trails extra finnage over a glowing red body, a calm and graceful twist on a beginner favourite. Peaceful and just 5 cm long, it shoals beautifully in a planted tank and males flush deep cherry-red when displaying.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Cherry Barb is native to shaded, slow-flowing forest streams and rivers in Sri Lanka, where it lives among leaf litter, roots and dense marginal plants in soft, tannin-stained water. A shy fish in the wild, it gains its confidence and best colour among plenty of cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSlim and torpedo-shaped, with a long dark lateral stripe over a body that ranges from tan to rich cherry-red. Males are the redder sex, deepening to intense crimson when courting; females are rounder and more golden-brown. This variety adds flowing, extended fins to the classic form.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA genuinely peaceful, slightly shy shoaling fish. Kept in a group of six or more it grows bolder and colours up; kept singly it tends to hide. It mixes well with other calm community fish and, unlike some barbs, is not a habitual fin-nipper — though gentle tankmates are still best for protecting the long fins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy-going omnivore. Offer good-quality flakes or micro pellets as a staple and supplement with frozen and live foods such as daphnia, bloodworms and brine shrimp for colour and condition. A varied diet keeps the males' red at its most intense.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy and adaptable, making it ideal for beginners, though it looks its best in a well-planted tank with soft, slightly acidic water and gentle flow. Floating plants and a darker substrate encourage confidence and richer colour. Keep water clean with regular changes; the long fins are otherwise undemanding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that gives no parental care. A well-conditioned group will scatter eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, and the adults will eat them if given the chance, so remove the parents or use a separate spawning tank. Soft, slightly acidic water and live foods bring pairs into spawning condition.\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\u003eLongfin Cherry Barb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelectively bred; wild species endemic to Sri Lanka\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–7 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (active shoaler)\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 or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (flakes, micro pellets, frozen and live foods)\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\u003e5–19 dGH (soft to moderately hard)\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\u003eBeginners; planted community tanks\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\u003eOther peaceful community fish: tetras, rasboras, danios, Corydoras, dwarf gouramis, peaceful barbs and small rainbowfish. Excellent in a planted community shoal of six or more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge or aggressive fish that intimidate them, and boisterous fin-nippers that damage the long fins. Avoid keeping them singly or in twos, which leaves them shy and washed-out.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232844923171,"sku":"AA1422","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Longfin_Cherry_Barb_b146ae95-9190-42b1-8b20-170e403fbd09.jpg?v=1781700460","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/longfin-cherry-barb-puntius-titteya","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}