Checkered Barb

The checkered barb, or checker barb, gets its name from the checkerboard pattern on the body. These hardy barbs are great for beginners and will reach two inches. They are a great schooling fish, and large males have slightly more black and red color on the fins.

Checker barbs originally came from lakes in Sumatra, Indonesia, but are now bred all over Asia for the aquarium hobby. Some were released in South America during a breeding program and are now found in some of the smaller streams in Colombia. Checkered barbs will not tolerate high pH near 8, but otherwise they are hard to disappoint.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them a well-planted tank with a filter, a heater and some dim, sheltered areas. They do best in soft, slightly acidic water.

Feeding: Feed a quality flake or small pellet once or twice a day, only as much as they eat in a couple of minutes. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Keep them with other peaceful fish such as rasboras, tetras, gouramis and corydoras. Avoid large or boisterous fish that can outcompete them.

Good to know: Checker barbs prefer neutral to slightly acidic water. A planted tank with a darker substrate shows off the checkerboard pattern.