All fish / Cyprinidae

Hampala Barb

Hampala macrolepidota

Also known as hampala, jungle perch, sebarau, transverse-bar barb, hampala carp, hampala barbel, ปลากระสูบขีด, ハンパラ・マクロレピドタ, palung, 暹罗红尾虎, 红尾虎

A large, streamlined silver barb with a bold black vertical bar below the dorsal fin and red or orange edged tail lobes with black margins. It is a famous sport fish in Southeast Asia and is kept by enthusiasts of big, active predatory cyprinids.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

40 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Single specimen or a small group in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: fish, prawns, earthworms, large pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Mekong, Chao Phraya and Mae Klong basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Java

Breeding

An egg-scattering river spawner that breeds in flowing water at the start of the rainy season. Captive breeding in home aquariums is not reported; stock comes from the wild or from farms.

Good to know

Grows to over 50 cm and eats any fish it can swallow, so it needs a huge, well filtered tank with a tight lid as it jumps. Easily confused with Hampala dispar, which has a round spot instead of a bar.