Denison barb
Sahyadria denisonii
11 cm
Adult size
300 L
Minimum volume
8
Minimum group
8 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Sahyadria
- Diet
- omnivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
The Denison barb, named after a governor of Madras, has become one of the most popular aquarium fish since it arrived in the late 1990s; in India it is nicknamed “Miss Kerala”. Massive collection for the trade has led to it being listed as endangered. FishBase now places it in the genus Dawkinsia.
- Scientific name
- Dawkinsia denisonii (Day, 1865)Current valid name; in the hobby: Sahyadria denisonii
- Classification
- Cypriniformes › Cyprinidae
- IUCN Red List
- Endangered (EN)
Natural habitat
Southern India: Kerala and Karnataka, in highly fragmented populations (Valapatanam, Chaliyar, Bharatapuzha...)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives in the upper reaches of Western Ghats rivers, in pristine, highly oxygenated water, where it gathers in rocky pools lined with dense vegetation. It is said to be most active at dawn and dusk.
Behaviour
Peaceful, ideal in a well-planned community tank, but it needs space and a good current. A shoaling fish, at least 6 to 10. The related S. chalakkudiensis, sometimes sold under its name, is more quarrelsome. An omnivore: worms, insects, crustaceans and plant matter; in the aquarium, live or frozen prey and quality dry food.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth