Cherry barb

Identity and search names

Single-species profile for Rohanella titteya. Older combinations are retained as search names; keep provenance for wild-type conservation lines. Search names: forest red barb, Puntius titteya, Barbus titteya, Pethia titteya

Environment and housing

Dense plants and wood at the margins, leaf litter or dark substrate, open swimming room and gentle to moderate flow

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore taking small invertebrates, algae, plant material and varied prepared foods

Feeding routine: Offer small varied meals once or twice daily at several locations

Breeding and reproduction

Egg scatterer among fine plants; adults may eat eggs and fry

Parental care: No parental care; adults may consume eggs and fry

System demands

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult stock and feeding load, with guarded intakes and a flow pattern the species can use without continual effort.

Aeration: Maintain strong gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen, especially overnight, during warm weather, medication, crowding or any interruption to filtration.

Maintenance: Test ammonia and nitrite after changes or abnormal behaviour; remove waste from the occupied zone and perform regular water changes matched to temperature and mineral chemistry.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope

Single-species profile for Rohanella titteya. Older combinations are retained as search names; keep provenance for wild-type conservation lines.

Adult size and space

Up to about 5 cm total length. At least 75 L for a group of eight or more. Adult dimensions, activity, social structure and waste production matter more than sale size.

Social structure

Keep at least eight with several females and multiple retreats

Swimming zone

Primary zone: Middle and lower water. Keep that zone usable and provide unobstructed feeding access, movement and refuge appropriate to the species.

Feeding ecology

Omnivore taking small invertebrates, algae, plant material and varied prepared foods

Feeding plan

Offer small varied meals once or twice daily at several locations

Water stability

Maintain 20–27 °C; pH: 6.0–8.0; hardness/minerals: Soft to moderately hard. Stable temperature, oxygen, mineral chemistry and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing a single exact number.

Habitat structure

Dense plants and wood at the margins, leaf litter or dark substrate, open swimming room and gentle to moderate flow

Compatibility plan

Choose peaceful similarly sized fish and avoid repeated fin-nipping or feeding competition

Breeding plan

Egg scatterer among fine plants; adults may eat eggs and fry. Parental care: No parental care; adults may consume eggs and fry. Do not trigger reproduction without capacity for aggression, eggs or fry and lawful long-term placement.

Quarantine

Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated nets, containers and siphons. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm normal feeding, respiration, skin, fins and waste, and never pour transport water into the established aquarium.

Welfare checks

Check group distribution, male chasing, fin condition, body fullness, colour and whether females have adequate dense refuge.

Biosecurity and release

Never release fish, eggs, fry, aquarium water, sediment, plants or foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted identity in current BICON, Australian live-fish import requirements and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.

Main risk

Older sources use Barbus, Puntius or Pethia titteya. The name change does not describe a different fish, and vulnerable wild populations should not be treated as an unlimited collection source.

Adult Projected Load

Moderate for the planned adult stock. Calculate filtration, oxygen and swimming space from the full adult size (Up to about 5 cm total length) and social group (Keep at least eight with several females and multiple retreats), not the juvenile sale size.

Filtration

Use mature mechanical and biological filtration with protected intakes and enough turnover for the adult group while preserving species-appropriate current and refuge.

Aeration

Provide strong gas exchange and backup aeration; increase oxygen support before warm weather, heavy feeding, crowding, medication or filter interruption reduces the safety margin.

Maintenance

Remove uneaten food and bottom waste, clean prefilters before flow falls, test ammonia and nitrite after changes, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.

Overridable Warnings

Older sources use Barbus, Puntius or Pethia titteya. The name change does not describe a different fish, and vulnerable wild populations should not be treated as an unlimited collection source.

Welfare and risk

Check group distribution, male chasing, fin condition, body fullness, colour and whether females have adequate dense refuge.

Sources

• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Rohanella titteya — Accepted name, synonym and taxonomic placement
• Aquarium Glaser — Rohanella titteya taxonomy update — Current genus placement and trade-name continuity
• IUCN Red List search — Rohanella titteya — Conservation and provenance cross-check
• Australian Government — importing live ornamental fish — Australian import pathway and biosecurity requirements
• PIRSA — South Australian noxious fish list — South Australian possession, trade and release context
• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes current search — Rohanella titteya — Current accepted-name, synonym, distribution and habitat cross-check