If you buy through our links, Amazon pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you. That’s how we keep the site running. How we choose.
Contents
Overview
The cherry barb is a small, calm barb from Sri Lanka. Females are tan with a dark lateral line, while males in good condition turn a deep cherry red that really pops against green plants.
Unlike the tiger barb, it is peaceful and does not nip fins, so it fits into most community tanks, even alongside shrimp. It is hardy, adapts to almost any water and is perfect for beginners who want a colorful fish without the fuss. Wild populations are limited and protected in Sri Lanka, but the fish in the trade have been captive-bred for decades.
Care and tank setup
A group of eight does well in a well-planted 16-gallon (60 L) tank, and a 20-gallon long (75 L) gives them even more room. Use a cycled tank, gentle filtration and a heater.
- Decor: plenty of plants, driftwood and moderate light. Dark substrate and floating plants bring out the males' best red and make the group far more confident.
- Water: undemanding; soft to moderately hard water is fine. Weekly 20-30% changes and avoiding sudden swings matter most.
- Group: keep more females than males. Males display at each other, but without damage.
- Tank mates: rasboras, small tetras, corydoras, otocinclus, dwarf gouramis, calm bettas and adult shrimp.
They do not school tightly like tetras: in a proper group they stay loosely together while each fish explores on its own. If they hide constantly, the group is usually too small or the tank is too bare.
Feeding
An easy omnivore. It takes fine flakes, micro pellets and slow-sinking wafers, since it feeds in the middle and lower levels. Add small live or frozen foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms) plus some plant matter; the carotenoids in a varied diet deepen the males' red. Small portions once or twice a day.
Breeding
Breeds readily. As an egg scatterer, it lays a few eggs a day among fine-leaved plants and moss over several days, without guarding them. In a heavily planted tank with moss, some fry survive on their own. For more, move the pair to a breeding tank and remove them after spawning. Fry need infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Cherry barb. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Betta fish Betta splendens 7 gal (25 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Guppy Poecilia reticulata 14 gal (54 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Panda cory Corydoras panda 16 gal (60 L) · 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) 
Zebra danio Danio rerio 16 gal (60 L) · 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) 
Amano shrimp Caridina multidentata 11 gal (40 L) · 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) 
Cherry shrimp Neocaridina davidi 5 gal (20 L) · 64–81 °F (18–27 °C) 
Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius 16 gal (60 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Otocinclus catfish Otocinclus vestitus 16 gal (60 L) · 70–79 °F (21–26 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Cherry barb, and why.
- Common goldfish: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Discus: incompatible temperatures
- Angelfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Clown loach: one may eat the other due to size
- Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Cherry barb healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Cherry barb need?
At least about 60 liters for a group of at least 8 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Cherry barb need?
Between 23 and 27 °C, with a pH of 6 to 7.5.
What fish can live with the Cherry barb?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Betta fish, Bronze cory, Guppy and Nerite snail. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Cherry barb be kept with shrimp?
Yes: it usually won’t eat adult shrimp, though some shrimplets may get picked off. A tank with plenty of moss gives the babies cover.
