Long Fin Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)

The Long Fin Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya) takes one of the best beginner community fish in the hobby and adds long, flowing veil fins. Males glow a deep cherry red, and their extended fins and trailing tail make every turn look graceful. They are hardy, peaceful, beginner-friendly schoolers that bring constant color and movement to a planted tank. Prefer the classic short-fin form? See our Cherry Barb, and browse the rest of our freshwater livestock to build the community around them.

Care Guide

Long Fin Cherry Barbs are just as forgiving as the standard form and adapt to a wide range of water conditions. Keep them in a group of six or more so they feel secure and show their best color, with more females than males to keep chasing in check. The one extra consideration is their fins: give them calm to moderate flow and peaceful tank mates so those long fins stay full and undamaged. Their red pops hardest over a dark substrate in a well-planted tank.

• Minimum tank: 20 gallons for a proper school.
• Water: 73 to 81°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. Very adaptable.
• Flow: gentle to moderate. Long fins tire in strong current.
• Diet: Omnivore with a small mouth. Feed micro pellets and quality flakes, plus frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, and mini bloodworms.
• Behavior: Peaceful, active, and social. Best kept in groups of 6 or more.
• Lifespan: 4 to 6 years with good care.

Specifications

Compatibility

Long Fin Cherry Barbs are model community citizens. They do not nip fins themselves, but their own long fins make them a target for fish that do, so choose calm tank mates.

• Good tankmates: Small tetras like the Ember Tetra, the Harlequin Rasbora, other peaceful barbs such as the Long Fin Odessa Barb, and bottom-dwelling Panda Corydoras.
• Also great with: Otocinclus, honey and dwarf gouramis, Amano Shrimp, and algae-eating nerite snails.
• Avoid: Fin-nippers like Tiger Barbs and Serpae Tetras, plus large or aggressive fish that may eat or bully them.
• Keep a school. A lone Cherry Barb is shy and washed out. Six or more brings out their confidence and color.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Hikari Micro Pellets, an ideal small-mouth staple
• Xtreme Nano Slow-Sinking Pellets for variety
• Hikari Bio-Pure Frozen Daphnia and SFBB Mini-Bloodworms for color and conditioning
• Live plants and a dark substrate to show off their red, see our freshwater plants

FAQ

What is the difference from a regular Cherry Barb?
Same species, same easy care. The long fin form has extended, flowing fins and a longer trailing tail, so it needs calmer tank mates and gentler flow to keep those fins looking their best.

How many should I keep?
At least six. Cherry Barbs are schooling fish and feel safest in a group, where the males also color up to compete for attention.

Why is one so much redder than the others?
Males are the bright cherry-red fish, especially when displaying. Females are a softer tan-rose with a darker side stripe.

Are they good for beginners?
Yes. They are hardy, adaptable, and forgiving. Just skip fin-nipping tank mates.