When someone talks to you about barbs, they're usually talking about a witty joke, or a woman, or possibly even thinking about upgrading the security of their fencing. But if you were a fish-lover, and I don't mean the eating kind, you would know that a barb is a popular aquarium fish, as in the tropical tiger barb, a freshwater fish found throughout the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and Sumatra.

And when someone starts chatting about tinfoil, you might be inclined to think they're discussing the freshness of foods, but really, they're talking about the tinfoil barb, another curious aquatic creature that is suitable choice for beginning aquaculturists.

If you already heard about those two barbs, you're likely to know about the cherry barb, a very popular aquarium fish that is suitable for beginning aquarium hobbyists (or aquarists as they're also called). The cherry barb, another freshwater fish found in the waters of Sri Lanka, is a timid, peaceful little fish that likes to hang around aquariums with lots of vegetation.

Barbs are just one of many spectacular species that you can select for your home aquarium, and if you're curious to learn about these fascinating little marine creatures, and would like to find about more about aquariums, aquarists and aquaculture, check out the Aquatic Community (or ACT Tropical Fish), an online resource and meeting place for tropical aquarium fish keepers.