All fish / Cyprinidae

Dagger barb

Puntius pugio

Also known as pugio barb, myanmar barb

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A small silvery barb from Myanmar, described in 2008, with no barbels, a complete lateral line and a dark band around the tail base. It reaches only about 4 cm and suits keepers who enjoy active, lesser-known shoaling barbs in planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and micro pellets, frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (Ayeyarwady basin)

Breeding

Like related barbs it is an egg scatterer that gives no parental care, so adults should be removed after spawning among fine plants or mesh. Captive breeding is rarely reported but is likely straightforward with conditioned fish.

Good to know

Rarely seen in the trade and easily confused with Puntius terio and other small Puntius species, so check identification when buying. Care figures are inferred from related species as little husbandry data exists.