All fish / Cyprinidae

Tiantian Barb

Pethia tiantian

Also known as tiantian barb, tian tian barb, puntius tiantian

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A small barb from northern Myanmar with a silvery body, dark blotches near the tail and behind the gill cover, and males that turn rich red with dark-edged fins when in condition. It is kept for its active shoaling behaviour and bright male colour in planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and micro pellets, frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (upper Chindwin and Irrawaddy basin, Kachin State)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that gives no parental care and will eat its own eggs. Spawning is fairly easy in a separate planted tank or one with mesh or moss, with the adults removed afterwards and the tiny fry raised on infusoria and then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Rarely seen in the trade and may be confused with other small red Pethia species such as the odessa or ticto barb. It prefers slightly cooler water than many tropical fish.