Freshwater
Black ruby barb
Pethia nigrofasciata
Cyprinidae, Smiliogastrinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 6 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- At least 6 together
- Smallest aquarium
- 41 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swims
- Missing
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Water values
Smallest tank
41 liters72 × 24 × 24 cm · For 6 fish
Worked out from its length, as we don’t yet know what size tank it should have. Do you? Sign up and tell us in the app.
Try other measures in the appFound only hereIntroduced
Lives wild in Sri Lanka.
Introduced to Colombia.
More about the species
About the species
Inhabits clear, cool, shady streams in forested areas, on gravel or sand substrate. Sometimes found in pools of quiet water in the margins of clear streams and rivers. Bred in captivity. Spawns in shallow water among marginal weeds. Eggs (>100) hatch in 1-2 days; fry are free-swimming after 24 h. Feeds mainly on filamentous algae and detritus. Males brightly colored and with darker fins. Popular aquarium fish. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 80 cm.
Source: FishBase
Other names
Other scientific names
- Barbus nigrofasciatus
- Puntius nigrofasciatus
In other languages
- Purpurhuvudsbarb
- Purpurbarbe
- Punapääbarbi
- Black-ruby barb, Purple-headed barb, Purplehead barb, Ruby barb
Articles
All articles
How many fish can I keep?4 min read
Why "one cm of fish per liter" falls short, and what adult size, schools, territory and swimming zones mean for how many fish a tank can hold.
Velvet and dropsy4 min read
Velvet is a fast-moving parasite. Dropsy is a sign that something is seriously wrong inside the fish. How to recognize them, and what you can do.
How to set up an Asian aquarium5 min read
Two aquariums from Southeast Asia: calm forest streams and peat swamps with soft, brown water, and fast mountain streams with cool, oxygen-rich water.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.