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Tiger barb

Tiger Barb Fish Species:

The tiger barb is a species of fish that is indigenous to the fresh waters of Malaysia, Borneo, and Indonesia.



It is a popular aquarium species as well because of its coloring and ability to school. Schooling does not imply that this is a social or peaceful fish in anyway. Though much less aggressive as compared to the paradise fish, it is still quite temperamental and will take pot shots at other fish that populate its tank.



When it comes to pet health issues, of keeping tiger barbs, there are some specifications that you need to follow in terms of brackishness of water and acidity. The ideal temperature that a tiger barb requires is about 23-27 degrees centigrade with a pH of about 8. There should be ample lighting in the tank considering that this is a tropical fish.




A tiger barb can be identified with its characteristic vertical stripes. This is a trait that exists even in the albino forms of the fish. The fish itself measures in at about a few centimeters wide and across. The ideal method of bringing up these fish is in a well sized 30 gallon tank with other members of the species as well. It is important that you add more than two members of the species otherwise two fish would show extreme aggression towards each other. Pet health information beyond the scope of introduction into a tank includes understanding some of the peculiar breeding habits of the fish. The tiger barb will mate and produce eggs that are then fertilized by the male; however, after that the two will separate and after the eggs hatch, the instances of cannibalism are rife.

For this reason, it makes a lot of sense to remove the adults from the tank to ensure that the youngsters have a fighting chance.
Pet health care for you tiger fish includes ensuring that you do not keep more aggressive species of fish around the tiger barb, avoid sudden fluctuations in lighting conditions, and that you stock the aquarium with adequate amounts of vegetable matter. Though the fish is omnivorous in nature, it is important that you acquire the right amount of protein from shrimp and other fry to ensure that your fish are healthy. The ideal companions of the tiger barb are species of catfish that are bottom dwellers, larger, and less aggressive than the tiger barb. The tiger barb is best kept away from fish that have long flowing fins as nipping is a major problem.

 
  Submitted on May 7, 2010