Rosy Barb

The rosy barb (Pethia conchonius) is a hardy South Asian barb from the rivers of northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Males flush a warm rose-red over a silver body, deepening considerably at spawning time, and both sexes carry a dark spot near the tail. Long-finned strains are common alongside the standard shape. Because it comes from water that cools seasonally, it is one of the few tropical community fish that stays comfortable in an unheated room in a warm house.

Aquarium care

• Reaches roughly 6 cm in the aquarium.
• Active and mostly peaceful, though it will nip if kept alone or in pairs.
• Keep five or more.
• Tolerates cooler water than most tropical fish and a wide range of hardness.
• Swims through the middle and lower levels.
• Omnivorous and enthusiastic: flake, pellets, frozen foods and some greens.

A sensible fish for a first community tank, or for a cooler room where a heater struggles. Keep it with other robust, short-finned species such as danios, larger tetras and loaches.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the rest of the current barbs.