Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Peaceful

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The Filament Barb is widespread throughout India, but most specimens available within the aquarium trade are produced through commercial aquaculture practices. An active species, the Filament barb has a peach-silver colored torpedo body shape that shimmers in an array of blue and green colors depending on the light. Similar to the Rohan Barb (D. rohani), except that the black spot before the caudal fin is more round in shape. Additionally, Filament barbs have black in the base of their dorsal fin whereas this is absent in the Rohan barb. These differences can be difficult to confidently distinguish on juvenile specimens from either species. There are few discernable differences between male and female Filament barbs; both sexes can develop filamentous rays off of their dorsal fin. Despite “barb” in their name, Filament barbs are rather peaceful compared to the boisterous barb species we think of (e.g., Puntius tetrazona [Tiger Barb, Green Tiger Barb], P. padamya [Odessa Barb]). Sometimes nippy behavior can be exhibited from Filament barbs when they are kept in too small of an aquarium and in too few of numbers. Filament barbs make for an excellent addition into the well researched community aquarium. A natural schooling fish, Filament barbs require at least 8 to 10 individuals of a mixed sex ratio. An adult Filament barb can reach a size of approximately 4″.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Filament barbs are omnivores. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods, sinking micro pellet foods and bug bites are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Some emphasis should be put on offering ample plant or algal based foods for this species. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.

Care Requirements: A minimum 55 gallon aquarium is ideal for a group of Filament barbs; this species may require more space as it grows into an adult. Filament barbs are not as hardy as some of the other barbs, and therefore should only be put into a biologically mature aquarium. Additionally, they are intolerable of deteriorating water parameters, so weekly water changes are ideal in order to keep the water chemistry pristine for this fish. Given their natural river environments, Filament barbs would benefit from well oxygenated water and more generous water movement. The aquarium does not need to be aquascaped with anything in particular to keep a school of Filament barbs happy, but a darker-neutral sandy substrate, driftwood and other natural-looking arrangements will bring out the beauty of this barb. Filament barbs can appear washed out in sparsely decorated set ups, however. In the proper environment, Filament barbs can be relatively peaceful though we do not recommend mixing them with fish that are timid, slow-moving, or that have decorative fins. Many small fish species may be intimidated by just the size and activity level of Filament barbs. In nature, Filament barbs are found in mixed schools with Panda (Haludaria fasciata) and Arulius (Puntius arulius) barbs. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 5-12, pH 6.0-7.0.

Purchase Size: Medium: 2” to 2-1/2”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.