Tiger barbs are some of the most entertaining types of barb fish to own. They look really good and beginners are going to have an easy time caring for these fish.
They’re among the most beginner-friendly types of barb fish that you can purchase. For many, they’re going to be some of the best fish to buy.
If you’re looking into buying tiger barbs soon, you likely want to learn more about them. For instance, you might be curious how long these fish live.
Do these fish live for a long time in a fish tank setting? Or are they relatively short-lived fish?
Continue reading to learn everything that you need to know about tiger barb longevity. This will ensure that you can make the best decision for your home aquarium.
The Average Lifespan of Tiger Barbs
The average lifespan of tiger barbs is said to be between five and seven years. If you do a very good job caring for these fish, they can survive for quite some tank in a fish tank setting.
It is said that tiger barbs might live slightly longer in the wild than they do in captivity. However, that isn’t anything that you need to worry about.
These fish are fairly hardy and aren’t that difficult to care for. Since they’re easy to take care of, keeping them alive for long periods of time won’t be that difficult.
It’s not common for tiger barbs to live longer than seven years in captivity. It can happen, but the fish won’t likely live much longer than seven years even under optimal conditions.
Most tiger barbs pass away after around six years when fish tank owners do a good job of caring for them. Of course, the longevity of the fish might be different depending on several factors.
For instance, fish might not live as long as usual if they get sick. Fish can get sick for many different reasons, but it’s common for them to get sick if the conditions in the aquarium are poor.
How Can You Make Tiger Barbs Live a Long Time?
Making tiger barbs live for a long time will involve giving them optimal care. You’ll want to do a good job monitoring the water parameters to keep them safe.
Regularly testing the water and doing your best to solve issues in a timely fashion will help the fish to thrive. Since tiger barbs are hardy fish, this isn’t going to be all that tough to do.
When caring for these fish, you need to keep the water temperature between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer the pH balance to be kept at 6.5.
Regularly testing the pH balance of the water is a good idea. If things get a bit too high or low, you’ll be able to make the necessary adjustments using chemicals.
Keeping the water clean for the tiger barbs will help them to stay in good health. If you do regular tank maintenance, it’ll be easy to keep them from becoming stressed.
Try to do regular water changes to keep things from getting dirty in the tank. Weekly water changes of 15% will be the best bet.
Avoid Overcrowding the Fish Tank
Overcrowding the fish tank will cause the tiger barbs to get stressed. No fish enjoy living in fish tanks that are crammed with too many fish.
These fish don’t need large tanks to be happy. You can keep tiger barbs in 20-gallon fish tanks just fine, although a 30-gallon tank would be more ideal..
Tiger barbs grow to be between two and a half and three inches long at maturity. You should be able to comfortably fit five or six tiger barbs in a 30-gallon aquarium.
If you attempt to put more fish than this in the fish tank, you’ll wind up causing the fish stress. You don’t want to try to force them to live in a cramped environment.
You’re supposed to keep tiger barbs in small schools. They should do well in groups of five or six in a fish tank setting.
If you’d like to keep more of them, it’ll be necessary to buy a larger fish tank. Also, if you want to keep tiger barbs in a community tank, it’ll be important to buy a larger aquarium.
Feed the Fish Properly
As you might expect, feeding tiger barbs well will help them to stay healthy. You want to ensure that they’re getting the right foods that will keep them strong.
You can feed tiger barbs fish flakes most of the time. It’s wise to vary the diet of the fish, though.
Give these fish meaty foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and beef hearts from time to time. You can also feed these fish cooked vegetables occasionally.
Taking the time to feed the fish a varied diet will keep them healthy. They aren’t picky eaters and you won’t have a hard time keeping them in good shape.
Are Tiger Barbs Good Community Tank Fish?
Tiger barbs are generally not considered to be good community tank members. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be kept in community tanks, though.
These fish are somewhat aggressive and they might bother slow-moving and docile fish. Also, they’re known to nip the fins of various types of fish.
Tendencies such as this can be problematic, but you just need to find the right tank mates for them. It’s important to research compatibility before putting fish in a tank with tiger barbs.
Many types of fish can get along fine with tiger barbs. Clown loaches are known to be good options.
Platy fish, some types of catfish, and danios fish can be kept with tiger barbs. If you pick appropriate tank mates for tiger barbs, they’ll do fine in a community tank setting.
It’s also notable that they do better in community tanks when kept in groups of six or more. Keeping only two or three in the tank will make them more likely to lash out at tank mates.
Tiger Barbs Like Plants
If you wish for the tiger barbs to stay happy in your fish tank, it’ll be good to give them plants. Putting aquatic plants in the tank will make the fish feel more natural.
When setting up the aquatic plants in the aquarium, it’ll be best to put them around the perimeter of the tank. This will ensure that there’s enough room for the fish to swim around in the middle of the tank.
These playful fish really enjoy having plants in the tank. You’ll see them swimming through the vegetation quite often.
There are many types of plants that will work well in a tiger barb fish tank. Java ferns and water wisteria are two of the most popular plants that people purchase for tiger barb aquariums.
Can Tiger Barbs Get Sick?
Yes, tiger barbs can get sick, and if they do it can potentially cut their lives short. Some diseases are very serious and have the potential to kill the fish.
Typically, you can avoid diseases by doing a great job of maintaining the tank. Tiger barbs are likely to stay in good health if they’re kept in a good environment.
Sometimes mistakes can occur and the fish will get sick, though. They could also get exposed to diseases or parasites when you transfer new fish or plants to the tank.
Diseases such as dropsy can be particularly dangerous. Ich, fin rot, and velvet can also be quite problematic.
Try to recognize that the tiger barbs are acting differently so that you can figure out what’s wrong early. Diagnosing issues and treating the problems will help the fish to get back to normal.
Are There Differences Between Males and Females?
Both male and female tiger barbs have the same lifespan. Each of them will live to be between five and seven years old on average.
There are physical differences between the fish, though. Female tiger barbs have much rounder bellies than their male counterparts.
The female fish are also generally larger and weigh more than the males. Males are brighter in color and they will have a red nose when they’re spawning.
It should be fairly easy to tell males apart from females. These fish have enough physical differences that it’ll be obvious once they’ve reached maturity.
Are There Different Types of Tiger Barbs?
No, tiger barbs are a type of barb fish. There aren’t different types of tiger barb fish.
Some tiger barbs might look a bit different or have slight color variations. They’re still just tiger barb fish.
Final Thoughts
You now know that tiger barbs can live to be seven years old in a fish tank setting. They will generally live between five and seven years.
Since these fish are hardy, it’s easy to care for them even if you’re a beginner. You should have a simple time keeping these fish healthy.
To get the best results, be sure to take good care of the fish tank. Monitor the water parameters and clean the tank on a regular basis.
Feed the fish properly and ensure that they have enough space to live comfortably. If you do all of these things, the tiger barbs in your tank will be likely to live for a long time.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.