All fish / Cyprinidae

Masya barb

Puntius masyai

Also known as masyai barb, thai barb, systomus masyai, ปลาตะเพียนทอง

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A deep-bodied, silvery barb from mainland Southeast Asian rivers, with reddish fins and a dark blotch near the tail base. It is mainly a food fish in its home range and only turns up occasionally in the aquarium trade, where it appeals to keepers of large river community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality pellets, flakes, frozen bloodworm and plenty of vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (Mekong and Chao Phraya basins)

Breeding

It scatters eggs over vegetation or gravel, probably during seasonal rains, and gives no parental care. Captive breeding has not been well documented.

Good to know

It grows fairly large and is an active swimmer, so it needs a long tank with good filtration and current. It is easily confused with other silver Southeast Asian barbs, and some authors place it in Systomus.