Barbs

About

What are Barbs? Barbs are small to medium-sized freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae. Popular species include tiger barbs, cherry barbs , albino tiger barbs , neon golden barbs and rosy barbs. Some species can be active fin-nippers, like the tiger and rosy barbs while others are peaceful community fish, such as cherry barbs and golden neon barbs. Females are larger in size while males display better coloration to attract mates. They come from Asia and Africa, living in streams, marshes, lakes and swamps. How to Set Up an Aquarium for Barbs A 40 litre tank is the bare minimum for smaller species like cherry and neon barbs, but larger species like tiger barbs or rosy barbs may require a 60-100 litre tanks or more. They are schooling fish and prefer to live in packs of at least 6-8 fish. Ensure to provide plenty of swimming room with decorations or plants to provide hiding spots and reduce stress. They have being known to jump so keed a lid secure over the aquarium. Barbs thrive in water temperatures between 23–27°C with a pH of 6.0–8.0 and moderate hardness (5–15 dGH). They do better in soft, more acidic water, so rainwater helps. Provide good filtration and do 10-20% weekly water changes with water conditioner. What do Barb Fish Eat Barbs are omnivorous fish, meaning they eat a mix of foods such as live, frozen and dried food. This includes tropical flakes, protein pellets, algae wafers, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, shrimp pellets, etc. They are not picky at all, and feeding once a day is sufficient, feeding only what they can consume in under 2minutes. Barb Breeding Tips for Beginners Barbs are egg layers and can be bred in captivity although it takes some effort and time. Feed live food and make larger 30-40% water changes to induce breeding. Females usually scatter eggs in plants or on the substrate, and it is recommended to remove the adults before eggs hatch to prevent it being eaten. Which plants and decorations work best for Barbs? Barbs are active f