Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)

Puntius titteya males redden into a deep cherry hue specifically when displaying for the group, a condition-and-mood-linked color shift rather than a fixed trait, and it's genuinely one of the calmest barbs in the trade for exactly that reason, no real fin-nipping tendency to manage. Worth knowing this species is also listed as vulnerable in its native Sri Lankan streams due to habitat loss, even though it's one of the most commonly farmed ornamental fish worldwide, a strange split between wild scarcity and captive abundance. Easy, peaceful, and a great beginner schooler.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful, shoaling · Max size: ~2" · Min tank: 15 gal · Diet: Omnivore, flake/pellet