All fish / Cyprinidae

Black-finned barb

Pethia nigripinna

Also known as blackfin barb, black fin barb, puntius nigripinna, black-finned red barb, nigripinna barb

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A small, deep-bodied barb from the hill streams of southern India. Adult males turn a rich red with black fins when in breeding condition, while females are plainer silver-gold. It is kept for this colour and its lively but peaceful shoaling behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and small pellets, plus live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern India (Western Ghats, Kerala and Tamil Nadu)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that gives no parental care and will eat its own eggs. Spawning has been achieved in captivity using a separate tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh and slightly cooler, soft water, but it is rarely bred commercially.

Good to know

Mostly wild-caught and rarely seen in the trade; it prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water with some flow and dislikes warm, stagnant tanks.