Compatibility brief
Can Cardinal Tetra live with Tiger Barb?
Caution. Check the issues below before buying.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: medium
Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.
80L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 80L (larger active fish often want more length).
Cardinals want a calm soft-water school; tiger barbs need a large same-species group or they redirect nipping onto long-finned or slower midwater fish. Fishori’s live verdict is CAUTION because under-grouped barbs commonly shred cardinal fins even when water chemistry can be compromised into a shared band. A pretty shop display is not the same as a home tank where the barb school is too small. If you want cardinals, choose peaceful dither mates; if you want tiger barbs, give them numbers and skip delicate tetras.
Assessment details
Caution advised
Top issueTiger barbs nip when under-grouped, and a cardinal school in a community tank can become the target. A proper barb school of eight in a planted 100L sometimes works; smaller or mixed setups do not.
Temperament difference
Tiger Barb is semi-aggressive, while Cardinal Tetra is peaceful. Expect chasing or stress unless the tank is large and heavily structured — monitor closely.
Compatible temperature range
Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.
“Tiger barbs nip when under-grouped, and a cardinal school in…”
Caution advised
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Do not mix cardinals with a short tiger-barb group. Keep six or more barbs in an active tank without cardinals, or keep cardinals with calm soft-water schoolers only.
- •Provide plenty of hiding spots and visual breaks so Cardinal Tetra can escape if harassed.
- •Cardinal Tetra should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.
- •Tiger Barb should be kept in a group of at least 8 for best health and behaviour.
- Seriously Fish. Paracheirodon axelrodi
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Paracheirodon axelrodi
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Paracheirodon axelrodi
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
- Wikipedia. Paracheirodon axelrodi (cardinal tetra)
Encyclopaedia overview; use specialist aquarium sources for your stock's real temperature/pH/footprint needs.
- Seriously Fish. Puntigrus tetrazona
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Puntigrus tetrazona
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Puntigrus tetrazona
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with Cardinal Tetra + Tiger Barb
Plan further
Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.
Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.
Profile data confidence: high. Checked against several solid care sources that mostly agree.