organism
Tiger barb vs cherry barb
Both are barbs sold for community tanks. How different are they?
Short answer
Completely. The tiger barb is a fast, boisterous, persistent fin-nipper that needs a group of ten and a metre of tank. The cherry barb is a calm, retiring fish that suits a 60 cm planted community.
Side by side
| Dimension | Tiger barb | Cherry barb | Favours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 5–7 cm | 4–5 cm | — |
| Fin-nipping | Frequent | None | Cherry barb |
| Minimum group | 10 | 8 | — |
| Minimum tank | 120 L / 90 cm | 60 L / 60 cm | Cherry barb |
| Safe with long-finned fish | No | Yes | Cherry barb |
| Safe with adult shrimp | No | Mostly | Cherry barb |
| Activity level | Boisterous | Moderate | — |
Which to choose
Tiger barb
Choose tiger barbs only for a species-focused or robust community tank of at least 90 cm, in a group of ten or more, with no long-finned fish.
Cherry barb
Choose cherry barbs for a normal planted community tank.
One caveat
Most of the tiger barb's bad reputation comes from being kept in groups of four to six. In a group of twelve it is a different fish — but it still needs the tank to match.