Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The Spanner Barb, also known as the T Barb, has a large distribution across clear freshwater forest streams of Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and islands in the South China Sea. Because of this, there is considerable variation in the appearance of individuals depending on the type locality in which they were collected from. Some individuals within the aquarium trade may also be produced from commercial aquaculture practices, most closely resembling the form from Johor in southern Malaysia. An active species, the Spanner barb has a peach colored torpedo body shape with a black stripe behind its head and a combination of a vertical and horizontal black stripe near the posterior end of the fish for which it gets the other common name “T” barb. Spanner barbs are quite boisterous, especially as adults, and therefore need plenty of space and careful selection of tank mates. In the wild, juveniles will form shoals while adults appear more solitary in nature. If you want to keep a shoal, consider no less than 8 individuals. An adult Spanner barb can reach a size of approximately 6″.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Spanner 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 more frequently 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 75 gallon aquarium is ideal for a group of small Spanner barbs; this species will require more space as it grows into an adult. Spanner 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, Spanner 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 Spanner barbs happy, but a darker-neutral sandy substrate, driftwood and other natural-looking arrangements will bring out the beauty of this barb. We do not recommend mixing Spanner barbs 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 Spanner barbs. Mix Spanner barbs with other large, active and robust barb or tetra species. Giant Danios (Devario aequipinnatus) would also make an excellent tank mate. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 5-12, pH 6.0-8.0.

Purchase Size: Medium: 2-1/2” to 3”

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