Barbs
Active cyprinids with a fin-nipping reputation that is deserved by some and not by others. Several are subtropical and suit an unheated room better than a heated tank.
28 species, separated by adult size. Part of the freshwater fish catalogue.
Small — 4 to 8 cm (10)
The core of most community tanks.
- Black ruby barbPethia nigrofasciata6.5 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Checker barbOliotius oligolepis5 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Cherry barbPuntius titteya5 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Five-banded barbDesmopuntius pentazona5 cmModerategroup of 8+
- Gold barbBarbodes semifasciolatus7 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Golden dwarf barbPethia gelius4 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Odessa barbPethia padamya7 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Snakeskin barbDesmopuntius rhomboocellatus5 cmDemandinggroup of 8+
- Stoliczka's barbPethia stoliczkana6 cmUndemandinggroup of 8+
- Tiger barbPuntigrus tetrazona7 cmUndemandinggroup of 10+
Medium — 8 to 15 cm (8)
Needs real swimming length. Frequently sold as juveniles into tanks that will not suit the adult.
- Doctor fishGarra rufa14 cmModerategroup of 5+
- Eurasian minnowPhoxinus phoxinus10 cmModerategroup of 8+
- European bitterlingRhodeus amarus9 cmModerategroup of 6+
- Fathead minnowPimephales promelas8 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Panda garraGarra flavatra9 cmModerategroup of 3+
- Rosy barbPethia conchonius14 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Ticto barbPethia ticto8 cmUndemandinggroup of 6+
- Topmouth gudgeonPseudorasbora parva9 cmUndemanding
Large — 15 cm and above (10)
Specialist tanks. Check the adult size and the lifespan before buying.
- Bala sharkBalantiocheilos melanopterus35 cmDemandinggroup of 5+
- Denison's barbSahyadria denisonii15 cmDemandinggroup of 6+
- GoldfishCarassius auratus35 cmModerategroup of 2+
- Koi carpCyprinus rubrofuscus75 cmSpecialistgroup of 3+
- Miss Kerala barbSahyadria chalakkudiensis16 cmDemandinggroup of 6+
- Rainbow sharkEpalzeorhynchos frenatus15 cmModerate
- Red-tailed black sharkEpalzeorhynchos bicolor15 cmModerate
- Siamese algae eaterCrossocheilus oblongus16 cmUndemandinggroup of 4+
- Spanner barbBarbodes lateristriga18 cmUndemandinggroup of 5+
- Tinfoil barbBarbonymus schwanenfeldii35 cmDemandinggroup of 5+