Product Details

Jade Green Tiger Barb – Puntigrus tetrazona

The Jade Green Tiger Barb is a bold captive-bred colour form of the classic Tiger Barb, selected for deep mossy green, jade or dark metallic body colour. As a strain of Puntigrus tetrazona, it is active, hardy and full of character, but it should be kept as a proper shoaling barb rather than a quiet community tetra. With enough space, group numbers and suitable tank mates, this variety makes a striking centrepiece shoal for lively aquariums.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Jade Green Tiger Barb
Other Names: Green Tiger Barb, Moss Green Tiger Barb, Moss Barb, Green Sumatra Barb, Tiger Barb
Scientific Name: Puntigrus tetrazona
Older / Trade Names: Puntius tetrazona, Barbus tetrazona, Systomus tetrazona, Capoeta tetrazona
Fish Type: Barb / Cyprinid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Wild Puntigrus tetrazona is native to Southeast Asia, especially Sumatra and Borneo. It is a tropical freshwater barb associated with warm, vegetated habitats where fish can move between plant cover, submerged structure and open swimming areas.

The Jade Green Tiger Barb is a captive-bred ornamental form, so its dark green colour is a selected aquarium trait rather than a separate wild locality. Aquarium care should still reflect the species’ need for clean water, open swimming space, plant cover and a well-sized group.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Jade Green Tiger Barbs have the same deep, laterally compressed body shape as standard Tiger Barbs, but with a darker green, olive, mossy or almost black metallic body colour. Depending on lighting and individual genetics, the green shade may appear jade, emerald, charcoal-green or dark bronze. The fins often show red, orange or black tones, especially in mature, settled fish.

Adults usually reach around 5–7 cm. Females are often fuller-bodied, while males are usually slimmer and may show stronger colour around the nose and fins.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is a good choice for active community aquariums, barb displays and lively planted setups. Jade Green Tiger Barbs are hardy and eye-catching, but they are not suitable for very quiet tanks or delicate long-finned fish. Their natural chasing and sparring behaviour should be managed with space, group size and robust tank mates.

They are not suitable for tiny aquariums, slow fancy fish, male bettas, fancy guppies, angelfish with long fins, delicate gouramis or shy nano communities.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 120 litres for a proper group, with a tank length of at least 90 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 150 litres or more are preferred for bigger shoals and mixed communities.

Keep in a group of at least 8, with 10–12 or more strongly preferred. Small groups are much more likely to nip fins, chase tank mates and focus aggression on weaker fish.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 20–26°C
pH: 6.0–8.0
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Jade Green Tiger Barbs are adaptable once settled, but they should be kept in clean, stable and well-oxygenated water. Avoid poor filtration, high nitrate and sudden swings in temperature or water chemistry. They suit standard tropical community conditions when the aquarium is mature and properly maintained.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Semi-Aggressive

Jade Green Tiger Barbs are active, boisterous shoaling fish. They are not predators, but they can be fin-nippy and disruptive if kept in small numbers or with unsuitable tank mates. In a large group, most chasing and sparring stays within the shoal.

Suitable tank mates include other active barbs, danios, larger rasboras, robust tetras, rainbowfish, loaches, bristlenose plecs, Cory-type catfish in compatible conditions and other fast-moving community fish that are not delicate or long-finned.

Avoid male bettas, fancy guppies, fancy goldfish, angelfish, long-finned gouramis, very shy nano fish and slow-moving species. Do not keep singly, in pairs or in tiny groups.

Feeding:

Jade Green Tiger Barbs are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small pellets or granules as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, mosquito larvae and bloodworm. Vegetable matter such as spirulina flakes, algae-based foods or blanched greens can also be included.

A varied diet supports strong colour, good condition and natural activity. Feed small amounts that are eaten quickly, as Tiger Barbs are eager feeders.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species is active during the day and spends much of its time swimming, displaying and interacting with the group. Males may spar, flare and chase, especially when mature, but this is normal behaviour when spread across a large shoal. They use both open water and planted edges, making them highly visible display fish.

Jade Green Tiger Barbs are egg scatterers and do not provide parental care. If spawning occurs in a community aquarium, eggs and fry are usually eaten unless a separate breeding setup is used.

Care Notes:

Add Jade Green Tiger Barbs only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Keep them in a large group, provide open swimming space and choose tank mates carefully. Avoid overcrowding, slow long-finned companions, poor oxygenation and cramped layouts.

This is a hardy and colourful barb, but it should be sold as an active semi-aggressive shoaling species rather than a gentle community fish. Customers should be advised that group size is the key to better behaviour.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common / Usually captive-bred colour strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, green colour, metallic sheen, fin colour, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.