Checkered Barb

Give Your Fish Friend a Happier Home!

Your fish deserves more than just a bowl! Explore our collection of aquariums designed to create a healthier, more vibrant habitat for your aquatic friends. Easy to maintain, visually stunning, and perfect for every home.

Click image to enlarge

Looking for easy to maintain tropical fish combinations?

Scientific Name

Puntius oligolepis

Min. Tank Size

20 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

68-75°F

pH

6.0-7.0/2-10°dGH

Size

2"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Other small Cyprinids, Livebearers, Danios, Rasboras, Tetras, Corydoras, Loaches and Gouramis.

Checkered Barb

One of the smaller species of Barb, the Checkered Barb achieves a maximum length around 2 inches. These fish are endemic to the Indonesian island of Sumatra where they can be found in slower moving rivers and creeks as well as pools and lakes. Checkered Barbs are more abundant at higher altitudes and thrive in water with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 and a temperature between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.Checkered Barbs can also be called Checkerboard and Island Barbs and they are known for the black markings on their sides which resemble the pattern on a checkerboard. These fish have silver bodies and males of the species exhibit red fins with black tips.

Tank Set-Up

As a schooling species, these fish are best kept in groups with 9 to 10 of their own species. As with any schooling species, a larger group of this size will always give a better display in the aquarium.The Checkered Barb is also compatible with a wide variety of other peaceful, community fish. Provide a heavily planted tank with some driftwood for a natural look. The water should be on the acid side of neutral and the bottom should be covered with dark substrate to help bring out the best colors of the Checkered Barb.

Feeding

In the wild, Checkered Barbs are bottom feeders, eating a variety of invertebrates and detritus. However, in the home aquarium, the Checkered Barb isn’t very picky and will accept most aquarium foods offered. For optimum health and coloration, feed a varied diet consisting of live/frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and Daphnia along with a high quality flake.

Breeding

In the home aquarium, these fish are easily bred but should be spawned in a separate breeding tank to ensure the survival of the fry. The breeding tank should be kept slightly acidic with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.0 and at a temperature between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The parent fish should be removed from the tank following spawning because they are likely to eat their own eggs and fry.