Tiger Barb

Tiger Barbs are colorful schooling fish with a playful, active personality. A member of the family Cyprinidae, this very hardy freshwater fish is a safe bet for beginners. However, since Tiger Barbs tend to establish somewhat of a pecking order, they are best suited for aquariums with larger, more active fish.

Just as their name suggests, their coloration is a bold combination of orange and black. The tiger-like stripes on their metallic golden body are accented with darker, orange fins. Male Tiger Barbs are more brightly colored and are smaller and thinner than females. Plan to keep the interior of the aquarium relatively open, since Tigers need lots of open swimming room to satisfy their active lifestyle. They do best in schools of 6 or more.