Cherry Barb

Remarks: If you're looking to maximize the color-to-size ratio of your fish, you'll be hard pressed to beat cherry barbs (Rohanella titteya). Males are an electric red color that can be spotted from across the room, despite their small average size of 1-1.5". Females sport golden-orange bodies and may be required for males to show their full colors. The albino variant of this species is closer to pink than red in both males and females.   Cherry barbs are endemic to the rainforests of Sri Lanka where they can be found in shallow streams with plenty of leaf litter, soft sand, fallen twigs, and shade provided by overhanging vegetation. These waters are clear or mildly tannin-stained, soft, acidic, and mildly warm. Unfortunately, these fish are heavily threatened by habitat destruction resulting in wild populations being so few in number that export of wild fish is currently prohibited. This means that cherry barbs available in the hobby are captive bred and their breeding should be encou