Cherry Barbs are tropical freshwater fish that mostly live in Sri Lanka. They are considered among the finest fish to be kept in a tank because they are easy to care for. Cherry Barbs are likely adaptable to various water conditions and warm temperatures, making preparing the tank easy. However, if you plan to have Cherry Barbs at home, ensure you can differentiate their gender. Below, I have some standards to help. Check it!

• Color

  The easiest way to differentiate Cherry Barbs is by their color. The males are bright cherry red, while the females are more tannish-red. Additionally, both sexes have a black horizontal line running down their sides, riming some scales in black.

  

• Size

  Remember that Cherry Barbs are freshwater fish that belong to the Cyprinidae family. They grow up to 2 inches long. The cherry barb males are often smaller in size than the females. Plus, females tend to be rounder than their male counterparts.

• Breeding Behavior

  When breeding, the male tends to be much more aggressive but doesn't bother other fish entirely. It's all because they must chase the female and externally fertilize the eggs. However, the female cherry barb will remain calm.

  

• Spawning Color

  During spawning, Cherry Barb males turn a more vibrant red color. On the other hand, the females tend to be lighter with a darker lateral line bar.

  

Conclusion

You may like the males more, but please remember that you should not place only a few male Cherry Barbs in one tank. You also need to have the female Cherry Barbs for balance. Now that you know how to differentiate between genders, are you ready to bring them home?