All fish / Cyprinidae

Khuga Barb

Pethia khugae

Also known as khuga barb, manipur barb, puntius khugae

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A small, deep-bodied barb from the hill streams of Manipur. It has a silvery body with dark spots near the dorsal fin and the base of the tail, and breeding males turn reddish. Hobbyists keep it as a hardy, lively schooling fish that copes with cooler water than most barbs.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

18 to 25 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia, plus quality flakes and granules

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Khuga River (Chindwin drainage), Manipur, India

Breeding

It scatters its eggs among plants or fine-leaved mops and gives no parental care. Breeding is fairly easy in a separate tank, but the adults eat the eggs, so remove them once spawning is over.

Good to know

It is rarely seen in the trade and may be mixed up with other small spotted Pethia species such as P. conchonius or P. manipurensis. Give it cool, well-oxygenated water with a bit of current.