All fish / Cyprinidae

Meingangbi Barb

Pethia meingangbii

Also known as meingangbi barb, manipur barb, pethia meingangbi, puntius meingangbii

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This small barb from the hill streams of Manipur has a silvery body with dark blotches near the tail and the gill area, and breeding males turn a reddish colour. It is closely related to the rosy and Ticto barbs and is kept by fans of unusual Indian species as a lively, hardy shoaling fish for planted community tanks.

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

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and micro pellets, frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, plus some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

India (Manipur, Chindwin basin) and possibly northern Myanmar

Breeding

It scatters its eggs among fine plants and gives no parental care, so the adults will eat the eggs. A separate tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh makes spawning fairly simple, much as with other Pethia species.

Good to know

Rarely seen in the trade, and it is easily confused with Pethia ticto and related species. It prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water, so avoid keeping it in very warm tanks.