All fish / Cyprinidae

Tambraparni Barb

Dawkinsia tambraparniei

Also known as tambraparni barb, tambraparni filament barb, puntius tambraparniei, dawkinsia tambraparnei, tamiraparani barb

This is a silvery, deep-bodied barb from southern India. It has a dark blotch near the tail and red to orange fins, and mature males grow extended filaments on the dorsal fin. People keep it as an active, peaceful shoaling fish for large planted tanks, and it is less common in the trade than its relative the filament barb.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, plus some vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

India: Tamiraparani river basin, Tamil Nadu (southern Western Ghats)

Breeding

It scatters its eggs and gives no parental care, so the adults will eat any eggs they find. Captive spawning has rarely been reported. A separate tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh, soft and slightly acidic water and well-conditioned adults gives the best chance.

Good to know

It needs a long tank with good flow and plenty of oxygen, and it may nip or bully very small or long-finned tankmates. It looks very like Dawkinsia filamentosa and other Dawkinsia species, so mislabelling is common.