Getting some tiger barbs for your aquarium will be exciting. These fish look really neat and they’re fun to take care of overall.
If you’ve never owned tiger barbs before, you might be worried about doing things right. You don’t want to make mistakes and wind up harming the fish.
It’s certainly wise to learn everything that you can about caring for them ahead of time. It allows you to approach the situation with confidence right from the very start.
Keep reading to learn about tiger barb care. You’ll get all of the information that you need to know about taking care of these fish.
Once you’ve read everything, you should feel confident that you can care for these fish properly. You’ll be able to do a good job and you’ll have a great time keeping tiger barbs in your home.
Are Tiger Barbs Easy to Keep?
Overall, tiger barbs are pretty easy to take care of. They’re fairly hardy fish that won’t die too easily.
That doesn’t mean that they will be able to survive anything. You do need to take care of these fish properly if they’re going to do well in your aquarium.
If you don’t have a lot of experience caring for tropical fish, you should feel confident about buying tiger barbs. They’re easy enough to care for even if you’re a complete beginner.
So long as you’re willing to learn, you’ll be able to keep the tiger barbs in good health. It will require a little bit of effort just as it does to take care of any type of fish.
Don’t hesitate to buy tiger barbs if you’re not experienced. Just take the time to learn a bit about their care so you can approach this situation with confidence.
Tiger Barb Behavior
You should know that tiger barbs are pretty rambunctious fish. In fact, they’re aggressive fish that might cause problems in the fish tank.
They’re known fin nippers that will nip at the fins of their tank mates. It’s also common for tiger barbs to fight with each other to establish a pecking order in the group.
Since these fish are kind of aggressive, they might not be perfect community tank fish. Even so, they’re fish that can be managed when you take the right approach.
Keeping at least five tiger barbs in the same tank helps to make them calmer overall. It doesn’t mean that they won’t be aggressive at all, but they won’t be quite so bad.
It’s also important to give these fish enough space in the tank. Don’t put them in tanks that are too small or they might feel territorial.
Tiger Barb Tank Setup
Setting up a fish tank for tiger barbs won’t be too difficult overall. You want to buy at least a 20-gallon fish tank to get started.
You’ll need essential pieces of equipment such as a filter, heater, and an air pump. It’s also a good idea to buy lights for the sake of convenience.
Tiger barbs like having plants in the aquarium as well. They do well with live aquatic plants, but you can also use artificial plants if you’d rather go that route.
These fish can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and water conditions. Even so, it’s best to use a heater simply because it keeps the temperature in the right range.
You want to keep your fish as healthy as possible. Water that is too cool won’t be beneficial to the tiger barbs.
What is the Ideal Water Temperature?
It’s best to keep the temperature of the water between 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do this, the tiger barbs should have a fairly easy time staying healthy in your tank.
Water temperature is an important thing to pay attention to. Even though these fish can tolerate dips in the water temperature, fluctuations can cause the fish stress.
Most enthusiasts agree that setting the heater in the fish tank to 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal choice. This should be the best temperature setting for the tiger barbs in your aquarium.
It’s always best to keep an eye on the water conditions. Doing so will help you to keep the fish as safe as you can.
You should be using a thermometer so you can easily see the temperature at a glance. Check things every so often and make adjustments when necessary.
Can Tiger Barbs Live in Cold Water?
Tiger barbs can survive in water that is a bit colder than the recommended temperature range. This doesn’t mean that it’s good for them.
When caring for tiger barbs in an aquarium setting, it’s best to keep the water temperature in the right range. Failure to do so could harm the fish.
Fish will become stressed when the water quality in the tank suffers. A cooler water temperature might make it more likely that the tiger barbs will get sick.
Stress can be a very serious problem. You don’t want your tiger barbs to get sick due to issues with the water parameters.
Avoiding these problems is relatively simple. Keep an eye on the water temperature and be sure to use a heater to keep things safe.
Tiger Barb pH Level
These fish are going to do best in slightly acidic water. The pH balance that’s recommended for tiger barbs is 6.5.
You should do your best to keep things at 6.5 as much as possible. The fish are capable of tolerating a wider range of pH balance conditions, though.
They can do okay in pH balances that range from 6.0 to 8.0. It’s simply best to keep things at 6.5 to give the tiger barbs optimal care.
You can easily adjust the pH balance when necessary to keep things where you want them to be. Simply use chemicals to lower or raise the pH balance level.
It’s always good to check the pH balance of the tank regularly. Failure to do so can lead to issues with the water quality.
Tiger Barb Water Parameters
You’ve learned most of what you need to know about the water parameters for tiger barbs already. These fish need water temperatures between 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit to stay as healthy as possible.
It’s absolutely best to use a heater when caring for these fish. Without a heater, it’d be rather difficult to keep the temperature in the right range.
The pH balance in the tank should be kept at 6.5. You can keep the pH balance in the tank between 6.0 and 8.0 and the fish will tolerate it.
You want to give the fish the best possible environment, though. Therefore, it’s better to keep the pH balance at 6.5.
Tiger barbs can tolerate water hardness levels between 5 and 19 dGH. It’d be best to keep things under 10 dGH, though.
Do Tiger Barbs Need a Heater, Filter, and Pump?
Yes, you absolutely must buy a heater, filter, and pump for the fish tank. The tiger barbs wouldn’t survive very long without these essential elements of the fish tank.
A heater is important because tiger barbs need the water to be kept in the right temperature range. You learned about this earlier.
Without a heater, the water would get too cold during many times of the year. This could stress and ultimately kill the fish.
Filters are important for keeping the fish tank clean. When you don’t have a good filter, the water is going to get pretty nasty.
Pumps are also important for oxygenation purposes and also to provide a current. You should get everything that you need for the fish tank before buying any tiger barbs.
How Much Light Do Tiger Barbs Need?
You will want to have a light for the tiger barbs, but they don’t need an incredibly powerful light. In the wild, tiger barbs can be found at many different depths.
It should be okay to purchase a simple hood light for these fish. Technically, you could probably get away with not having a light.
You’ll still want to buy one for the sake of convenience. Also, you might have fish that will need the light living alongside the tiger barbs.
They might not like bright or powerful lights so keep that in mind. Many tiger barb owners have noted that the fish seem a bit startled when the lights come on.
How Much Room Do Tiger Barbs Need?
You need to ensure that tiger barbs have enough room in the tank. They require a certain amount of space to be happy.
If you try to cram tiger barbs in a fish tank that’s too small, it’s going to cause them stress. It’ll also make them more aggressive due to bringing out their territorial nature.
Avoid issues like this by keeping the fish in an appropriately-sized aquarium.
Technically, one tiger barb is said to need three or four gallons of space. You can’t keep them in such small fish tanks because they must be kept in groups.
You need to keep at least five tiger barbs in one fish tank for things to go well.
This means that you must buy a fish tank that will comfortably fit at least five of these fish. The smallest aquarium that will work is a 20-gallon aquarium.
A 20-gallon aquarium can fit five tiger barbs well enough. If possible, it’d be better to buy a 30-gallon aquarium.
A 30-gallon aquarium is big enough to fit six tiger barbs comfortably. If you want to keep the maximum number of tiger barbs in the fish tank, you’ll want to purchase a 55-gallon aquarium.
Of course, you’ll need to go larger if you plan to make tiger barbs part of a community tank. It’s also better to have more room than it is to have too little.
Do Tiger Barbs Like Current?
Yes, tiger barbs do like to have some current in the fish tank. In the wild, tiger barbs can be found in rivers that have fairly strong currents.
Therefore, you can try to match the type of current that these fish are used to in the wild. Many enthusiasts ensure that they have a strong current in the fish tank for their tiger barbs.
Ideally, you should make it so the tank has fast-moving water that is also quiet. It’s also important to ensure that the water is properly oxygenated.
When picking tank mates for tiger barbs, it’ll be necessary to pick other fast-moving fish that can handle a stronger current. It’s another reason why tiger barbs won’t be compatible with certain types of tank mates.
Can a Tiger Barb Live Alone?
It’s unwise to keep tiger barbs in fish tanks by themselves. They are schooling fish that are meant to be kept in small groups.
If you don’t have enough room for several tiger barbs, it’s better not to buy any at all. You’re supposed to buy at least five tiger barbs for one fish tank.
These fish will act out and be more aggressive when kept in groups that are smaller than five. They’ll bother other fish in the tank and will also fight with each other even more.
To keep aggression issues at bay, it’s imperative to have the right number of fish in the aquarium. Always keep at least five tiger barbs in the fish tank.
You should also know that tiger barbs shouldn’t be kept in numbers that are too large. Keep no more than 12 tiger barbs in the aquarium.
If you do things right, the tiger barbs should do well in your home aquarium. Be sure that your fish tank has enough room for the number of tiger barbs that you wish to care for.
What to Feed Tiger Barbs
When it comes to feeding the tiger barbs, you shouldn’t have a difficult time. Tiger barbs are omnivores that aren’t picky about what they eat.
They do require a fair bit of protein to be able to thrive. You can still feed them fish flakes on a regular basis, though.
Feeding the fish tropical flakes should work out nicely. You’ll then want to supplement the diet of the fish using meaty foods.
It’s common for fish owners to give tiger barbs freeze-dried brine shrimp. They also enjoy beef hearts, bloodworms, and other such foods.
When feeding these fish, you want to avoid giving them too much at once. These fish will become constipated if they eat too much food.
This can lead to complications such as temporary swim bladder issues. It’s easy enough to avoid this by feeding them a specific amount of food each time.
You can feed tiger barbs either daily or twice per day. When feeding the fish once per day, you’ll need to give them as much food as they can finish in five minutes.
If you’d rather feed them twice per day, you’ll need to give them as much as they can eat in two and a half minutes each time. This should keep the fish very healthy.
Are Tiger Barbs Good Community Tank Fish?
No, tiger barbs are not generally considered to be good community tank fish. These fish are somewhat aggressive and they’re also known to be fin nippers.
When you keep tiger barbs in tanks with fish that have long and flowing fins, it’ll be a problem. For example, tiger barbs would terrorize fish such as bettas and angelfish.
The fin nipping can be such a problem that it might severely stress other fish in the tank. It could even kill other fish depending on how things go.
Tiger barbs are also somewhat aggressive with each other. They’re always jockeying for position in the hierarchy of the school.
When you keep these fish in groups of five or more, the aggression issues are mitigated. This is why you shouldn’t keep fewer than five tiger barbs in a tank.
It’s also not wise to keep more than twelve of these fish in the same tank. They can be community fish if you take the right precautions.
Even so, you’ll have to pick tank mates for these fish very carefully. You’ll have to pick fish that can get along fine with tiger barbs such as clown loaches.
Good Tank Mates for Tiger Barbs
If you’re interested in learning more about tiger barbs as community tank fish, it’ll be wise to start by looking into tank mate options.
There are several fish that are known to be able to live alongside tiger barbs. You’ve already learned that clown loaches are one of the best choices.
You could also put other fast-moving fish in community aquariums with tiger barbs. There are many other types of barbs that can live with tiger barbs.
Some of the most popular options are cherry barbs and rosy barbs. Tinfoil barbs are known to be good tank mates for them as well.
Neon tetras should be able to live in the same tank as tiger barbs. Cory catfish are very peaceful fish that stay at the bottom of the tank, and they won’t have any problem being in the same aquarium as tiger barbs.
Pictus catfish can be good choices, too. Plecos work well.
Truly, you have a number of different options to consider. Even if tiger barbs aren’t excellent community fish, you can still put them in a community tank by picking the right tank mates.
Of course, you must ensure that all of the fish that you pick are compatible with each other. Otherwise, you could encounter issues with fish besides the tiger barbs.
How Long Do Tiger Barbs Live?
If you do a good job caring for tiger barbs, they have the potential to live for quite some time. They’ll stick around in your aquarium for many years.
The average life span of a tiger barb in captivity is between five and seven years. Of course, this assumes that you’re giving the fish optimal care.
Your tiger barbs won’t live nearly as long if you don’t take care of their needs. To keep them alive for five to seven years, it’ll require you to pay attention and maintain the tank properly.
This means keeping the tank clean, monitoring the water parameters, and feeding the fish properly. If you do all of this, you should be able to enjoy the tiger barbs for many years.
Are Tiger Barbs Expensive?
Tiger barbs aren’t generally considered to be expensive. You can buy standard tiger barbs for between $4 and $6.
The prices of the fish will fluctuate based on where you buy them and other factors. There are special types of tiger barbs that might cost a bit more, though.
Some tiger barbs are colored differently and might cost several dollars more per fish. There are also longfin tiger barbs that can cost as much as $29.00.
Pick the tiger barbs that appeal to you the most. You won’t need to break the bank when buying standard tiger barbs even if you need to buy at least five of them for the tank.
Will Tiger Barbs Kill Each Other?
It is possible that tiger barbs might kill each other. This doesn’t normally happen, but it can under certain circumstances.
You know that these fish are aggressive. You’ve also learned that they fight each other to jockey for position in the group.
Sometimes weak and small tiger barbs will get bullied. This might get so bad that the fish will get bullied to death.
It doesn’t always happen, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility. If one of your tiger barbs dies, it’s possible that the other tiger barbs killed it.
If the fish is undersized, it’s very likely that this occurred. It can be frustrating, but there isn’t a lot you can do about a situation like this.
Final Thoughts
After reading all of the information above, it should feel easier to take care of tiger barbs. You know everything that you need to do to get good results.
Tiger barbs aren’t difficult fish to take care of overall. They’re considered to be beginner-friendly fish for a reason.
If you want to buy some tiger barbs, you should have a pretty simple time taking care of the basics. Monitor the water conditions and be sure to keep the fish tank clean.
Do your best to feed these fish recommended foods. This will keep them healthy and strong.
Remember that you have to keep at least five tiger barbs in the tank. They’re schooling fish that need to be kept in groups of five or more.
You can buy these fish and have a good experience caring for them. Just be mindful that they are aggressive fish that might not do well in all community fish tank settings.
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.