Cherry Barb (Rohanella titteya, formerly Puntius titteya)

The cherry barb (Rohanella titteya, formerly Puntius titteya) is a small, peaceful, freshwater fish endemic to the rainforest streams of Sri Lanka. Known for its vibrant red color and hardy nature, it is highly popular in community aquariums.

Unlike many rowdy barb species, cherry barbs are incredibly mild-mannered and easy to care for, making them perfect for beginners.

Aquarium Care & Parameters

Group Size & Sex Ratio

Keep them in a minimum group of 6 to 8.

Maintain a ratio of 2 females to every 1 male.

This prevents males from over-harassing a single female during courtship.

Tank Setup

Plants: Provide a heavily planted tank with lots of side cover and floating vegetation.

Substrate & Lighting: Use a dark substrate and dimmed lighting to mimic their natural forest stream environment, which helps them feel secure and show off their best colors.

Water Parameters:

Temperature: 73°F to 81°F (23°C to 27°C)

pH: 6.0 to 7.5 (They prefer slightly acidic water)

Hardness: Soft to medium (5–15 dGH)

Diet & Feeding

Cherry barbs are omnivores and are not picky eaters. They will readily accept high-quality flake food, micro-pellets, and freeze-dried or live treats like bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Ensure some food drops to the middle and bottom layers, as they do not always feed comfortably from the very surface.

Tank Mates

They are ideal citizens for peaceful community setups.

Good tank mates include:

Tetras (Neon, Cardinal, Rummy-nose)

Rasboras (Harlequin, Chili)

Corydoras Catfish and Kuhli Loaches

Dwarf Cichlids (Gouramis, Apistogramma)

Note: While they can coexist with adult shrimp, they may eat tiny baby shrimp (shrimplets) unless there are plenty of dense hiding places like moss and wood. Avoid housing long-finned varieties with notorious fin-nippers like Tiger Barbs.