Dwarf Tiger Barb facts for kids
The Dwarf Tiger Barb (Puntigrus partipentazona) is a small, colorful fish. It lives in the freshwaters of Southeast Asia. You can find it in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. This fish is also popular in aquariums around the world.
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About the Dwarf Tiger Barb
This fish is a type of cyprinid fish. This means it belongs to a large family of fish that includes carps and minnows. It lives in streams and ponds. These places often have lots of plants growing in the water.
Sometimes, people confuse the Dwarf Tiger Barb with another similar fish. This other fish is called the Tiger Barb. They look very much alike, but there are small differences.
What the Dwarf Tiger Barb Looks Like
The Dwarf Tiger Barb can grow up to about 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long. Its body is usually silver or brownish-yellow. It has three wide black stripes going up and down its body.
There is also a fourth black stripe across its eye. You will see a black spot near its top fin, called the dorsal fin. This fin also has a streak of red color.
Telling Males and Females Apart
The red streak on the dorsal fin is brighter in male fish. In females, this red streak is not as bright. Females are also usually a little bigger than males. Their body shape can also be slightly different. These are the main ways to tell if a Dwarf Tiger Barb is a male or a female.
How to Tell it From a Tiger Barb
All five types of fish in the Puntigrus group look very similar. The Dwarf Tiger Barb looks a lot like the common Tiger Barb. However, if you look closely, you can see a difference.
On the Tiger Barb (P. tetrazona), the middle black stripe on its body goes all the way through its dorsal fin. But on the Dwarf Tiger Barb (P. partipentazona), the black color on the dorsal fin only connects to the black spot on its body. It does not go all the way through the fin.
Reproduction
The Dwarf Tiger Barb lays its eggs in open water. It is an "egg-scatterer." This means the fish just releases its eggs into the water. The eggs are sticky and attach to plants.
The adult fish do not stay to guard their eggs. They do not take care of their young after the eggs are laid. They usually lay their eggs among thick plant growth.
What its Name Means
The scientific name for this fish is Puntigrus partipentazona. The second part of its name, partipentazona, has a special meaning. It means "partly five-zoned." This refers to the stripes and markings on its body.
See also
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species
