Puntius titteya Deraniyagala, 1929
Cherry barb
Puntius titteya
photo by Ramani Shirantha

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Smiliogastrinae
Max. size:  5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6 - 8; dH range: 5 - 19
Distribution:  Asia: Kelani to Nilwala basins, Sri Lanka. The more colorful varieties are possibly being overfished for the aquarium trade.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Occurs mainly in heavily shaded streams and rivulets, preferring shallow, slow-flowing water with silt substrate and leaf debris. Omnivorous, the gut containing detritus, green algae, diatoms, dipterans and animal matter. About 200 eggs are scattered among marginal plants. Young hatch in 1-2 days and are free-swimming after 48 hours. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 60 cm (Ref. 51539).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 07 August 2019 (B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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