All fish / Cyprinidae

Stoliczka's barb

Pethia stoliczkana

Also known as tic-tac-toe barb, tictactoe barb, stoliczka's barb, stoliczkae barb, stoliczkai barb, puntius stoliczkanus, barbus stoliczkanus, false ticto barb, ปลาตะเพียนทราย, ストリチカエ・バルブ, 斯氏无须魮, 井字鲃

This is a small, silvery barb with a black spot behind the gill cover and another on the tail base. In breeding condition, males show a bright red dorsal fin with black spots. It is hardy and lively, and stays small enough for planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5.5 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

68 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small sinking pellets, flakes, frozen and live bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, plus some vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and southern China (Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Mae Klong and upper Chao Phraya basins)

Breeding

It scatters its eggs among fine-leaved plants or moss and does not look after them. The adults will eat their own eggs, so they should be taken out after spawning. Breeding is fairly easy in a separate tank, and the fry can be raised on infusoria and then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

It is often confused with the very similar Pethia ticto, and stock sold under either name may be the other species. It can nip long-finned tankmates when kept in small groups.