Species › Barbs
Tiger barb tank mates and minimum tank size
Puntigrus tetrazona
Tiger barbs grow to 7 cm (2.8 in). They live in groups: keep at least 10. They nip the fins of slow or long-finned fish. They are active and can unsettle shy tank mates. They need 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) and pH 6.0–8.0.
- Minimum tank
- 72 L (19 US gal), at least 80 cm (31 in) long
- Adult size
- 7 cm (2.8 in)
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- pH
- pH 6.0–8.0
- Group
- 10 or more
Tiger barb minimum tank size
Tiger barbs need at least 72 L (19 US gal), in a tank at least 80 cm (31 in) long.
That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 7 cm (2.8 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (28 cm (11 in)).
Tiger barb tank mates
Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against tiger barbs by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.
Compatible (29)
- Black neon tetra
- Black skirt tetra
- Bristlenose pleco
- Bronze corydoras
- Cherry barb
- Clown loach
- Common pleco
- Dwarf gourami
- Glowlight tetra
- Goldfish
- Harlequin rasbora
- Kuhli loach
- Lemon tetra
- Molly
- Mystery snail
- Neon tetra
- Nerite snail
- Panda corydoras
- Paradise fish
- Peppered corydoras
- Platy
- Red tail shark
- Rosy barb
- Serpae tetra
- Siamese algae eater
- Swordtail
- White cloud mountain minnow
- Yoyo loach
- Zebra danio
With care (15)
- Cardinal tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by tiger barbs and cardinal tetras. That leaves no margin.
- Celestial pearl danioTiger barbs nip and chase; shy celestial pearl danios are likely targets. Celestial pearl danios are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Cherry shrimpTiger barbs (7 cm) usually leave adult cherry shrimp (4 cm) alone but eat the young.
- Chili rasboraTiger barbs nip and chase; shy chili rasboras are likely targets. Chili rasboras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlidThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by tiger barbs and cockatoo dwarf cichlids. That leaves no margin.
- DiscusThe only temperature that suits both is 26 °C (79 °F), set by discus and tiger barbs. That leaves no margin.
- Ember tetraTiger barbs nip and chase; shy ember tetras are likely targets. Ember tetras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Endler's livebearerTiger barbs nip and chase; shy Endler's livebearers are likely targets. Endler's livebearers are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Glass catfishTiger barbs nip and chase; shy glass catfish are likely targets. Glass catfish are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Honey gouramiTiger barbs nip and chase; shy honey gouramis are likely targets. Honey gouramis are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- KribensisTiger barbs nip and chase; shy kribensis are likely targets. Kribensis are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- OtocinclusTiger barbs nip and chase; shy otocinclus are likely targets. Otocinclus are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Pearl gouramiTiger barbs nip and chase; shy pearl gouramis are likely targets. Pearl gouramis are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Pygmy corydorasTiger barbs nip and chase; shy pygmy corydoras are likely targets. Pygmy corydoras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Rummy-nose tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by tiger barbs and rummy-nose tetras. That leaves no margin. Tiger barbs nip and chase; shy rummy-nose tetras are likely targets. Rummy-nose tetras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
Not compatible (8)
- AngelfishTiger barbs nip fins, and angelfish have long, trailing fins. The only temperature that suits both is 25.6–26 °C (78–79 °F), set by angelfish and tiger barbs. That leaves no margin.
- BettaTiger barbs nip fins, and bettas have long, trailing fins. Bettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as tiger barbs, many do not.
- Boeseman's rainbowfishBoeseman's rainbowfish need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); tiger barbs need 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). No temperature suits both.
- Congo tetraTiger barbs nip fins, and Congo tetras have long, trailing fins. Congo tetras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so tiger barbs would be harassed.
- German blue ramGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); tiger barbs need 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by tiger barbs and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. Tiger barbs nip and chase; shy German blue rams are likely targets. German blue rams are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
- GuppyTiger barbs nip fins, and guppies have long, trailing fins.
- OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; tiger barbs grow to 7 cm.
Sources
Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.
| Fact | Value | Source | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult size | Shown: 7 cm (2.8 in) | the largest of 2 sources | |
| 6 cm (2.4 in), standard length | Seriously Fish | ||
| 7 cm (2.8 in), total length | FishBase | ||
| Minimum tank volume | Shown: 72 L (19 US gal) | one source | |
| 72 L (19 US gal) | Seriously Fish | ||
| Minimum tank length | Shown: 80 cm (31 in) | one source | |
| 80 cm (31 in) | Seriously Fish | ||
| Temperature | Shown: 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) | the narrowest of 2 sources | |
| 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) | Seriously Fish | ||
| 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) | FishBase | ||
| pH | Shown: pH 6.0–8.0 | the narrowest of 2 sources | |
| pH 5.0–8.0 | Seriously Fish | ||
| pH 6.0–8.0 | FishBase | ||
| Group size | Shown: 10 or more | one source | |
| 10 or more | Seriously Fish | ||
Behaviour notes are from Seriously Fish, read .