All fish / Cyprinidae

Indigo Barb

Pethia setnai

Also known as indigo barb, setnai barb, puntius setnai, barbus setnai

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A small, slender barb with a silvery body crossed by dark bars and blotches, while males show reddish fins and a blue-black sheen when in breeding colour. It is kept for its lively shoaling behaviour and fairly modest size, and it suits planted community tanks with clean, well-oxygenated water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4.5 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Western Ghats, India (Karnataka and Goa)

Breeding

It scatters its eggs among plants or over the substrate and gives no parental care, so the adults will eat the eggs if they are left in. Spawning in a separate tank with fine-leaved plants or mesh is fairly simple, and the fry need infusoria first.

Good to know

Native to a small area of the Western Ghats and rarely seen in the trade, so check where stock comes from. It prefers cooler, flowing water and can nip fins slightly if kept in too small a group.