|
|
|
Cyprinds
/ Barbs / Rosy Barb
Rosy Barb
Puntius conchonius | Pictures
Synonyms: Barbus
conchonius, Cyprinus conchonius, Systomus conchonius
Physical description: The Rosy Barb has no barbels and has slight lateral compression.
The back is copper to green-gold.
The
flanks are bright orange to red and metallic looking.
Near the caudal penuncle is a black spot.
The reddish fins may be elaborate with
the anal and dorsal fins have black borders along the upper-parts.
Males turn a deep, but bright red color
at spawning times.
Size/Length: To 6" (15 cm), although rarely larger than 4" (10 cm) in captivity.
Similar species: None
Habitat: Inhabits still and moving waters.
Asia; Bengal and Assam (Northeastern India).
S: All
Aquarium: A tank measuring 24" (61 cm) with a capacity of 20 gallons (75 L) or a tank measuring
30" (76 cm) with a capacity of 20 gallons (75 L) is adequate for smaller fish (under 4"-10 cm).
Leave
large open swimming areas.
Plant the corners and rear of the aquarium with hardy plants.
The substrate should be fine gravel
or sand and a few floating plants add comfort.
Water chemistry: pH 6-7.5 (6.8), 2-10 dH (5), 64-75°F (18-24°C)
Social behavior: A lively, schooling species that may disturb quieter species in a community tank.
Adults
may nibble fine or soft leafed plants.
Suggested companions: Danios, Gouramis, Loaches, Doradids, Loricarids,
Epalzeorhynchus.
FOOD: Live; Brine Shrimp, insect larvae;
Tubifex, flying insects; flakes; spinach.
SEX: Males are smaller and more colorful.
Breeding techniques: Use a breeding tank with a substrate of marbles and furnished with many fine-leafed
plants.
The water should have a temperature between 73-79°F (23-26°C) and a water level of only
three to eight inches.
Add one male and two females to the tank during the evening.
After an active, morning courtship,
the fish spawn among the plants.
They are notorious egg-eater and should be removed immediately after spawning.
The
tank should be covered with dark paper so the chances of fungal infections is reduced.
The eggs hatch after 24-30 hours and
the fry can be fed with roftiers, liquid foods, and powdered flakes foods after their yolk sac is finished.
Breeding potential: 5.
A prolific species that is easy to breed if the eggs can be protected from the parents.
It
is not uncommon for some fry to reach maturity in a sparsely populated, heavily planted tank.
Remarks: Sexually mature from 2.4" (6 cm).
A common form, the Long-finned Rosy
Barb is widely available.
Fish are sensitive to large amounts of new water, so frequent partial water changes should
be made.
Difficulty of care: 2.
A robust species that is an excellent candidate for the community tank having other active
fish.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
|
|
|
