A fish with a long aquarium history, cherry barbs are found in relatively cool forest streams in their ancestral homelands, preferring habitats which benefit from the shade of old growth forest. These tend to be sandy with lots of leaf litter and few submerged plants, although marginal vegetation provides plenty of cover.
| Synonyms | Barbus titteya, Capoeta titteya, Puntius titteya |
| Distribution | Sri Lanka: Kelani to the Nilwala Basins. All specimens offered for sale in the trade these days are captive-bred (see below). |
| Maximum Size | 5cm (2") |
| Temperature | 22-27°C |
| Water Parameters | Will acclimatise to a wide range of conditions. pH: 6.0-8.0, dH: up to 20 degrees. |
| Compatibility | Community |
| Lighting | No special requirements |
| Sexual Dimorphism | Males with much deeper all over red body colour. Females paler with more pronounced lateral stripe and more heavily built. |
| Feeding | Flake, granules, pellets, algae wafers and frozen foods |
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