Cherry Barb vs Zebra Danio
Puntius titteya compared with Danio rerio
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Cherry Barb | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Puntius titteya | Danio rerio |
| Order | Cypriniformes | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae | Danionidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Cherry Barb | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 5.0 cm | 5.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 0.002 kg | 0.001 kg |
| Color | Males are vivid cherry-red over the entire body with a dark mid-lateral stripe from snout to tail; females are pale golden-olive with the same dark stripe; fins reddish to clear. | Silver to pale gold body with five continuous horizontal royal-blue stripes running from gill to tail tip, including through the fins; belly silvery-white; fins clear with blue-gold striping. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Cherry Barb | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater | Freshwater |
| Depth Range | — | — |
| Geographic Range | Endemic to the Kelani River basin in southwestern Sri Lanka. Restricted to shaded, slow-flowing forest streams and small tributaries with dense riparian vegetation; population has … | Native to the Ganges and Brahmaputra river basins of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Myanmar. Inhabits fast-flowing hill streams, rice paddies, and shallow ponds across the … |
| Habitat | Clear, fast-flowing streams of Sri Lanka and southwestern India. Shallow, oxygen-rich, cool mountain streams (22-26°C) over gravel substrates. Dense riparian vegetation provides cover. | Fast-flowing, clear mountain streams of the Ganges-Brahmaputra region, India and Bangladesh. Clean, well-oxygenated, shallow water with sandy and gravelly substrate (18-26°C). Lab model organism. |
Aquarium Suitability
| Attribute | Cherry Barb | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Min Tank Size | 60 L | 40 L |
| Temperature | 23-27 | 18-24 |
| pH Range | 6.0-8.0 | 6.0-8.0 |
| Care Level | Easy | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
Cuisine & Edibility
Cherry Barb
Not consumed — ornamental aquarium fish listed as Vulnerable in the wild; kept for its cherry-red coloration and peaceful schooling nature.
Zebra Danio
Not consumed — a hardy ornamental aquarium fish notable for its horizontal blue-silver stripes and active schooling behavior; also a widely used laboratory model organism.
Species Overview
Cherry Barb
The cherry barb is a small, colorful fish native to Sri Lanka's shaded forest streams. Males develop an intense cherry-red coloration during breeding. Listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and over-collection for the aquarium trade.
Zebra Danio
The zebrafish is a small cyprinid native to South Asia's freshwater streams. Its distinctive blue-and-gold horizontal stripes and hardy nature make it a popular aquarium fish. It is also the most widely used vertebrate model organism in genetic research.