All fish / Cyprinidae

Melon Barb

Haludaria fasciata

Also known as melon barb, banded barb, striped barb, puntius fasciatus, dravidia fasciata, eight-banded barb, black-banded barb, メロンバルブ, 条纹无须鲃

A deep-bodied barb from the hill streams of the Western Ghats with a warm orange to reddish body crossed by dark irregular bars, the colour deepening in mature males. It is kept for its lively shoaling behaviour and good colour, and is a hardy, peaceful alternative to the more nippy barbs.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and small pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, with some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southwestern India (Western Ghats, Kerala and Karnataka)

Breeding

An egg-scattering species that gives no parental care and will eat its own eggs. It can be spawned in a separate tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh over the base, removing the adults after spawning; this is not particularly difficult but is rarely done in the hobby.

Good to know

It does best in cool, well-oxygenated water with some current, so avoid very warm tropical set-ups. Wild populations vary in pattern and several look-alike Haludaria and Pethia species may be sold under the same name.