Arulius Barb

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Scientific Name

Puntius arulius

Min. Tank Size

40 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

66-77°F

pH

6.0-7.5/2-10°dGH

Size

4.5"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Other large Cyprinids, Rasboras, Danios, Loaches, Livebearers and Dwarf Cichlids.

Arulius Barb

Also called the Silas Barb and the Longfin Barb, the Arulius Barb is native to India. These fish are found throughout the Kaveri River basin in large streams, lakes and rivers. Adults of this species have olive brown bodies with lighter sides and transparent fins. The defining characteristic of these Barbs is the large black splotches that appear in the middle of the body, above the pelvic and anal fins as well as at the base of the caudal fin.

Tank Set-Up

These fish are fairly peaceful by nature and can be kept with other similarly sized cyprinids. Arulius Barbs can be nippy, but when kept in large schools containing six or more of their own species, these behaviors are minimized. These fish are fairly undemanding in regards to water quality but are most likely to thrive in well planted tanks with a high oxygen content, dark substrate and good lighting.

Feeding

As is true of most Barbs, Arulius Barbs are omnivorous by nature. In the wild, these fish feed primarily on insects, crustaceans and worms in addition to plant matter. In the home aquarium, these Barbs should be offered a staple diet of high-quality flakes or granules supplemented with small live and frozen foods such as Artemia, brine shrimp, Daphnia and bloodworms. Feed a diet consisting of a variety of foods on a regular basis to promote the best health and coloration.

Breeding

These Barbs are fairly easy to breed in the home aquarium and are best spawned in groups containing six or more of each sex. The breeding tank should be kept at a neutral pH and a temperature between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. To prevent the parents from eating their eggs after spawning, remove the parent fish or line the bottom of the breeding tank with mesh with a large enough grade that the eggs can fall through but the parents cannot. The eggs usually hatch after 24 to 48 hours and the fry will become free swimming after another 24 hours.