Cherry Barb vs Dwarf Gourami

Puntius titteya comparado con Trichogaster lalius

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Cherry Barb	Dwarf Gourami
Nombre Científico	Puntius titteya	Trichogaster lalius
Orden	Cypriniformes	Anabantiformes
Familia	Cyprinidae	Osphronemidae
Conservation Status	Vulnerable	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Cherry Barb	Dwarf Gourami
Longitud Máxima	5,0 cm	9,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,002 kg	0,005 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.	Males show brilliant alternating diagonal red-orange and iridescent turquoise-blue stripes across the flanks; dorsal and anal fins have red and blue streaking; throat and belly vivid electric blue.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Cherry Barb	Dwarf Gourami
Tipo de Agua	Freshwater	Freshwater
Rango de Profundidad	—	—
Distribución Geográfica	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 rivers and floodplains of West Bengal, Assam, Bangladesh, and parts of Pakistan. Found in densely vegetated slow streams, ponds, and flooded rice …
Hábitat	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.	Slow-moving rivers, ponds, and ditches of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Shallow, warm, densely vegetated freshwater (22-28°C). Males highly territorial and build bubble nests among floating …

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Cherry Barb	Dwarf Gourami
Tamaño Mínimo del Acuario	60 L	40 L
Temperatura	23-27	22-28
Rango de pH	6.0-8.0	6.0-7.5
Nivel de Cuidado	Easy	Easy
Temperamento	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.

Dwarf Gourami

Not consumed — popular ornamental labyrinth fish treasured in freshwater aquariums for its vivid red-and-blue striped coloration and calm temperament.

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.

Dwarf Gourami

The dwarf gourami is a brightly colored labyrinth fish native to the slow-moving waters of South Asia. Males build elaborate bubble nests at the surface for spawning. Its pelvic fins have evolved into long, thread-like feelers used to sense the environment.