All fish / Cyprinidae

Butterfly Barb

Enteromius hulstaerti

Also known as butterfly barb, hulstaert's barb, barbus hulstaerti, dwarf butterfly barb, hulstaerti barb, バルブス・フルスタエルティ, 蝴蝶鲃

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This tiny African barb has a golden to yellowish body with dark spots near the gills, the middle of the body and the tail base, and males show orange in the fins. Keepers value it as a rare, delicate nano fish for soft, acidic, dimly lit planted tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

5.5 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp, plus fine dry foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and northern Angola

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine plants or moss and gives no parental care. Breeding in captivity is possible in very soft, acidic water, but the tiny fry need infusoria and the species is rarely bred.

Good to know

It is shy and sensitive to poor water quality, so keep it only with other small, calm fish. Wild-caught stock is irregularly available and can be hard to settle.