Puntigrus Tetrazona, or Tiger Barb, is a fairly hardy species of fish.
Known for their low maintenance and cost, if compared to other fish with the same visual appeal, they are one of the best kinds of fish for beginner aquarists,
However, just like any other fish, the Tiger Barb has a range of aspects in which it can live perfectly fine.
Temperature For Tiger Barbs
The temperature, for instance, shouldn’t get lower than 68°F, or 20°C nor higher than 88°F, or 31°C or the fish may become stressed and, if the temperature is not corrected, the adverse conditions can even lead to death.
Although some may say that the perfect temperature is below 82°F or 28°C, many countries in the Asia has room temperature more than 82°F or 28°C.
The tiger barbs are still doing well at this temperature.
As for the pH, anywhere between 6.0 to 8.0 is considered ideal, so not acidic nor alkaline.
Try and keep the range as close to 7.0 to ensure the best possible water quality for your Tiger Barbs.
You can use multiple types of PH test kits to test the condition of your tank.
Considering that they are already quite nippy, poor water conditions may add up to the list of factors that may lead them to live under stress.
As you can see, Tiger Barbs don’t require any special conditions but if you’re an absolute beginner, there are aspects you should keep in mind.
What Other Care Do Tiger Barbs Require?
Apart from the abovementioned temperature and pH parameters, aquariums with Tiger Barbs should also bear a few other aspects to deliver the fish the perfect living conditions.
While all species of Tiger Barbs go well with each other, they will definitely require a good deal of space.
As shown in the image below, the there are too much tiger barbs in a tank.
Tiger Barbs are considerably fast swimmers and enjoy the occasional picking on other animals, so giving them room to swim should help keep them away from stress.
Most experts say that large schools of Tiger Barbs give them confidence and improve their overall quality of life. (Make sure your tank is big enough)
However, as they require room to swim, mind the size of the aquarium in case you’re looking to add a few to your school.
Ideally, a school of 12 should be the right number for a 30-gallon aquarium.
Read: How many Tiger Barbs to keep depend on Tank Size
When it comes to feeding Tiger Barbs, keep in mind that they are normally gobblers and will eat a large range of fish food.
While that apparently makes it easier for the feeding, make sure to feed them food that scatters quickly, such as flakes and small pellets, or some of the fish may miss their dinner.
As for the kinds of food Tiger Barbs enjoy, freeze-dried, Repashy gel and even frozen food will do.
Bloodworms, on the other hand, should be fed to them carefully as females tend to swell up if they eat too many of them.
Adding roughage to their diet may ease digestion, so make sure to occasionally feed them some blanched vegetables, brine, or daphnia.
In the end, Tiger Barbs are easy fish to grow and they require very little care.
Just make sure they have enough room to swim, plenty of hiding places, and that the school is not too big for your aquarium and they should live their natural 3 to 5 year lifespan happily.
