Cherry Tiger Barbs

[mmx]

Anyone know anything about "Cherry" Tiger Barbs? They're definitely tigers, not Cherry Barbs, and are a really nice shade of red over a base colour similar to that of albino tigers.

I can't find anything about them online, but want to know a little about them in case I come across some. Obviously, I don't want them if they're dyed (which I don't think they are). I'm sure I've seen pics of them on here, in peoples tanks.

Anyone got any info?

 

[Lateral Line]

There are lutino Tiger barbs which lack black pigmentation but retain the normal reds - it could be those you have seen. There also artificially dyed/painted TB's around, these frequently end up with "fruity" names. If a fish looks improbably coloured, then it probably is.

All TB's are the same species however, Barbus tetrazona, and all have the same demands and attitude problems.

TB info.

 

[digital_run]

Most likely they have been dyed...Although ive never seen a lutino variance before...Do you have a link to a pic LL ?

DR


Wow....This is 1000 posts for me!

 

[mmx]

All TB's are the same species however, Barbus tetrazona, and all have the same demands and attitude problems.

It's the attitude problem that I like about them, especially considering they'll have a tank almost entirely to themselves. And while these so-called Cherry Tiger Barbs were pretty colourful, I'm not convinced that they were dyed. I will try to find a photograph to illustrate.

Thanks for your help Lateral Line.

 

[digital_run]

Give them a shot....A dyed fish isnt exactly a dead fish...But it is horrible for the fish....What size tank do you have for them? Species tanks can be quite nice and if there available in your area you can mix it up with some Green/Regular/Albino tigers.

 

[mmx]

I'd rather not support the practice of dyed fish, and while people continue to buy them, shops will continue to stock them. I haven't decided on tank specs yet, but it'll probably be a 20 gallon, something around that size.

Anyhow, here's a couple of pics I found (originally from this thread):

Two "cherry" tigers and an albino. Anyone got any ideas?

 

[abstract]

i don't know if they are died but i saw a sign at a local chain store for red tiger barbs for the first time the other day...there were none in the tank though..they got a shipment of fish in yesterday so i'll have a look today

 

[digital_run]

They look dyed to me....I could be wrong though.

 

[Lateral Line]

They look dyed to me as well. The hypomelanic/lutino does not have red instead of the black, it just lacks the black. A true albino would lack the red colouration as well.

That red colour also looks a very un-natural shade for a cyprinid.

 

[ccg]

I would have to agree with the above. To me those fish look as if they have been dyend. I have been keeping tiger barbs for years, and have never came across anything like this before.

 

[Gill]

I've seen those Dyed TB's B4.

The Shop they were on Sale @ Swore they were a natural Color. But Even I know that TB's don't come in Flourescent shades of Red Pink and Blue.