(Please note that the fish shown in the photo is only a representative of what an adult specimen would look like. The color may vary based on the age and sex of the fish you receive.)
Scientific Name: Puntius titteya
Common Name: Red Cherry Barb
Adult Size: 2 inches
Life Expectancy: 4 - 10 years
Habitat: Tropical shallow, slow moving, well shaded streams of Sri Lanka from Kelani to the Nilwala basin.
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 73 - 80° F
- pH Range: 6.0 - 8.0
- Water Hardness: 4 - 10
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Omnivore; should be fed a variety of foods including vegetables and meaty foods. Consider a good quality flake food along with occasional feedings of live brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, and frozen foods. They also enjoy eating algae.
Breeding & Spawning: Place several of them in an aquarium until they pair off. When a pair comes together, the female will lay the eggs with the male following closely behind her fertilizing them. In about five days the fry will be free swimming.
Gender: Adult males are noticeably smaller, slimmer, and more colourful than females, especially when in spawning condition.