Fish
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazonaAlso known as Sumatra Barb, Partybent Barb
Tiger barbs dart through sunlit shallows and tannin-stained peat swamps across western Indonesia in lively, tightly coordinated shoals. They establish a dynamic social hierarchy through energetic mock sparring, head-down posturing, and persistent fin nipping among school members. Females scatter hundreds of adhesive eggs among submerged river roots, leaving the developing fry to fend for themselves without parental care.
FreshwaterSchoolingStriped
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyInsect larvae, Water fleas (Daphnia), Filamentous algae
Predators
- Snakeheads
- Water snakes
- Kingfishers
ThreatsHabitat alteration, agricultural runoff, and peatland deforestation
HabitatsTropical slow-moving streams, swamps, and peat forest pools
Life span5–7 years
Classification
- OrderCypriniformes
- FamilyCyprinidae
- GenusPuntigrus
- SpeciesPuntigrus tetrazona
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Group Dynamics: Keep in shoals of at least six to disperse aggression and reduce fin-nipping.
- Habitat Setup: Provide shaded zones with driftwood and aquatic plants to mimic natural peat waters.
Image unavailableLook-alike 
Frequent Companion (c) Citron, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-saSame Family
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