All fish / Cyprinidae

Rosy Line Barb

Pethia nankyweensis

Also known as rosy line barb, red line barb, nankywe barb, puntius nankyweensis, pethia nankywensis

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A small, slim barb from Myanmar with a silvery body, a dark horizontal stripe and, in males, a vivid red line above it that brightens during display. It is kept for its lively shoaling behaviour and the striking colour of breeding males, and it suits peaceful planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

45 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (Sittaung River basin)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns among fine-leaved plants or moss and gives no parental care. Breeding is fairly easy in a separate tank with soft cover, removing the adults afterwards so the eggs are not eaten.

Good to know

Males spar harmlessly with each other, so keep a good group with more females. It is tiny, so avoid housing it with large or predatory fish.