A step by step guide to building a natural-style display for the beautiful, if occasionally nippy, tiger barb, by Tai Strietman.
Tiger barbs are familiar fish in the aquarium hobby, bred in huge numbers and loved for their bold stripes, bright colours and energetic behaviour. Yet the wild habitats that shaped these characterful little fish are under increasing pressure from human activity.
Of all the various tropical freshwater aquatic habitats around the world, when it comes to conservation, there are likely two which have entered public consciousness by clinging on to the coattails of terrestrial forests and animals: the Amazon River basin and the rainforests of Southeast Asia. Both areas feature impressive biodiversity that are at risk from human activities, including deforestation.
Photo by Shutterstock
Palm oil, mining and peat swamp forests
The tiger barb is one of the well-known fishes in the aquarium hobby that originates from the forests of Southeast Asia. In nature, this species faces many threats, especially from palm oil plantations being developed in their native range.
We might, justifiably, blanch at the scenes of endless rows of palm oil trees cutting swathes through the dense rainforest. And yet, we continue to buy products with palm oil, partly because palm oil is everywhere and making a conscious decision to live without it can be both costly and challenging.
The rainforests cleared for palm oil plantations once contained peat swamps: blackwater habitats of bogs, streams, pools and marshes, often covered by dense tree-canopy. And it is in these habitats that we find the tiger barbs, along with a variety of other beautiful and sensitive fishes.
As well as palm oil, mining, especially for tin, has seen these habitats levelled by bulldozers, roads laid over them and forests swallowed up by quarries. My friend Andre Chandra, an Indonesian fish-enthusiast, described how in areas where palm oil had yet to reach, the miners were clearing land instead.
It can be very hard not to feel doom-laden when learning of the awful realities which face habitats and species. However, we can only try to do our little bit, and we must still work to find and value the joy which comes from learning about nature and appreciating it.
All photos by Tai Strietman unless otherwise stated
Did you know?
The tiger barbs that are typically available in the hobby here in the UK are often called the wrong scientific name? Find out more here.
Tiger barb activity
In the forest streams and small tributary rivers where rainforest still stands, tiger barbs forage in areas of mostly clear water over substrates of sand and pebbles. They've also been reported in sluggish rivers and swampy areas, meaning that they are likely adaptable to a range of environments.
They are active and constantly search for food, often near the substrate but also zipping up to the surface, where presumably, in the wild, they would hunt insects. Their energy levels do make them somewhat of a menace and in the wrong tank, with the wrong tank mates, they can stress out more sedate neighbours.
Many fishkeepers will already know that tiger barbs can bring a certain ‘energy’ to an aquarium display. When kept in inadequate numbers, they often sort out their own hierarchy fairly quickly, then turn on their tankmates.
However, when the tigers are added to a suitable setup and allowed to thrive, they can develop into chunky, characterful and beautiful fish. I wanted to create a natural-style display for a group of them not only to highlight this common species of tropical fish, but also to raise awareness of the issues facing the peat swamp forests.
Related article: How do I keep 'five banded' barbs?
Enter the shallow swamp
I had a 120 x 60 x 30 cm (48 x 24 x 12 in) aquarium which had some nasty scratches but otherwise was in a decent state. Combined with two 38w LED spot-lamps on gooseneck fittings and a light background panel with an orange-yellow gradient foil, I thought I could mimic a tannin-stained forest stream.
A large canister filter, in the form of an Oase BioMaster 850, would provide plenty of flow, suggesting the current of the stream.
It can be hard to create layouts for long, shallow displays. I’ve learned that usually, less is more, and that a simple island layout (or double island) often works quite well.
I wanted emergent plants in the tank, to prevent it from feeling too flat and linear. I settled on Hygrophila corymbosa, a fast-growing plant from Southeast Asia which would rise up and out of the tank. The plants came from Aquarium Gardens and so of course, were large, healthy specimens!
I wasn’t going to use CO2 in this display as I wanted to see how the plants would do without it, and besides, most of the plant mass would be above the waterline anyway.
I settled on minimal hardscape, an interesting piece of wood which might suggest a section of roots washed into the stream.
Aquarium plant soil was used in the rear of the display to provide a good growing medium for the live plants. A mixture of warm-coloured sand with small pieces of gravel covered the rest of the shallow aquarium, creating a natural aesthetic.
I could have included leaf litter but liked the idea that in this place, the current was strong enough to sweep it away, leaving the open expanse of sand.
I used rainwater and blackwater extract to create a soft, acidic water chemistry. The fish themselves came from Maidenhead Aquatics Cambridge, loaned to me by manager Paul Webb after I had exclaimed at their decent size and good colouring.
Related article: Have you kept these five underrated barbs?
Step by step tiger barb biotope
The piece of wood, our main focal point, is added just off-centre to the right. Much more hardscape could be used, but sometimes simple is best!
The aquarium plant soil is added to a depth of 10 cm (4 in) behind the wood where the plants will be placed. Hygrophila corymbosa likes to have a nutrient rich substrate.
Sand was added to the rest of the display and then smoothed out. The warm colour will help to suggest the tannin stained environment of a forest stream.
The stems of Hygrophila were added behind the wood. They are placed in a way so that they will sway nicely in the flow from the filter outlet while creating an overhang to provide shelter for the barbs.
The rainwater, filtered and preheated to 24°C (75°F) before use, was added, using a plastic bag to diffuse the flow and prevent disturbing the substrate.
Once filled, blackwater extract was added to the tank and the filter and heater were turned on. Although a mature filter was used, the tank was allowed to settle for a week and the water tested before fish were added. Water quality was tested daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to ensure the mature filter could cope with the fish stocking.
Related article: How to cycle a fish tank: the complete guide.
The finished tiger barb tank
The final display was very much ME, by which I mean it felt like a natural-style aquarium designed to represent a habitat, while also looking effective and being achievable. I was pleased with what I had created with a single piece of wood, one species of plant and just a group of tiger barbs.
Of course, I was using high-end kit in the form of the lights and the light-background, but I wanted to show off these fish, not hide them away in a dim, dark biotope!
The fish did their best to fulfil my goal, with the males flexing and displaying towards each other and the females, and the whole group regularly foraging over the substrate.
I only added twelve individuals and they did chase each other about a bit but there were no injuries nor did any individual show signs of stress. The tiger barbs soon began to colour up again. The reds, oranges and the malachite, shimmering greens in the black bars provided a feast for the eyes.
The Hygrophila quickly began to rise above the waterline, making the display feel very authentic. I spent many happy hours watching this tank.
In the wild, the habitats I was simulating are disappearing beneath oceans of oil palms, but here in my own home, I could still watch my tigers burning bright.
Read more of Tai's articles:
Step by step pygmy corydoras biotope
Step by step Brazilian tetra biotope