Gold barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
7.5 cm
Adult size
100 L
Minimum volume
8
Minimum group
5 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Barbodes
- Diet
- omnivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
The gold barb is the golden aquarium form, which appeared in the 1960s, of the Chinese “green barb”. It is so widespread that many aquarists do not know that the natural form is green. Its name means “half-striped with small bands”.
- Scientific name
- Barbodes semifasciolatus (Günther, 1868)
- Classification
- Cypriniformes › Cyprinidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Southwestern China (including Hainan), Taiwan, Vietnam and northern Laos
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It prefers slow tributaries and still waters (marshes, irrigation canals) with dense vegetation, where it forms shoals near the bottom.
Behaviour
Very peaceful and undemanding, it suits beginners. Keep it in a group of at least 8 to 10, with other peaceful cyprinids and loaches. Omnivorous, it searches the bottom for diatoms, algae and small invertebrates, and accepts all foods. It tolerates fairly cool water.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth