Cuming's Barb - Talkfishy

Cuming’s Barb

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Scientific Name

Puntius cumingi

Min. Tank Size

20 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

72-81°F

pH

6.0-7.0/1-12°dGH

Size

2"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Other small Cyprinids, Rasboras, Loaches, Gouramis and Livebearers.

Cuming’s Barb

The Cuming’s Barb is a ray-finned species of Cyprinid. These fish are endemic to Sri Lanka where their numbers have drastically declined in recent years due to deforestation of their natural habitat and over-exploitation for the aquarium trade. Yellow-finned Cuming’s Barbs typically inhabit swiftly flowing streams and tributaries while the red-finned variety can be found in slow-moving waters such as swamps and marshes. This species is one of the smaller species of Barb, generally reaching a maximum size around 2 inches.Cuming’s Barbs are very similar in appearance to the Ticto or Tic-Tac-Toe Barb. These fish have silver bodies marked with two large black spots, one above the pectoral fin and the other at the base of the caudal fin.

Tank Set-Up

The Cuming’s Barb is a schooling species, so if you decide this is the fish for your aquarium, purchase at least 8 to 10. Not only will a school of this size provide a better display of their natural behavior, it will also provide a sense of security and help to reduce any skittish tendencies this fish might otherwise have. Provide a tank habitat with some degree of current and well oxygenated water to mimic the streams and rivers these fish naturally inhabit. The addition of river rock and a gravel or sand substrate would be good choices as part of this setup. Including plants as part of this setup is also beneficial as long as you choose varieties that are hardy enough to withstand the current.

Feeding

These Barbs are omnivorous by nature, eating a variety of small invertebrates and plant matter in the wild. Feeding the Cuming’s Barb in the home aquarium is fairly straightforward since this species 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, Daphnia and a high quality flake. This diet should be supplemented with fresh vegetables or Spirulina flakes.

Breeding

This species is fairly easy to breed in the home aquarium and conditioning can be accomplished in either groups or pairs. For the breeding tank, provide Java moss or a spawning mop for the female to deposit her eggs on. Filtration can be accomplished with something as simple as a sponge filter to prevent any strong currents. The breeding tank should be kept at a fairly neutral pH and the temperature maintained between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. After spawning, the eggs typically hatch within 24 and 48 hours and the young fry may become free swimming after another 24 hours. As with most Barbs, the Cuming’s Barb is an egg eater, so the adults should be removed once spawning has occured.