Subscribe
Subscribe
Gold barb is the captive variant of the Chinese barb indigenous to Southeast Asia’s Red River basin. Though the Chinese barb is green, this variety has a golden coloration as its name suggests, being a sought-after pick in the aquarium trade. Its peaceful behavior in captivity is a complete contrast to its increased prey drive in the wild, another reason thus for being a popular pet choice.
| Scientific Name | Puntius semifasciolatus (Barbodes semifasciolatus: Scientific Name of the fish in wild) |
| Other Names | Schubert’s barb, green barb, half-stripes barb, six-banded banded barb, half banded barb |
| Origin | Southeast Asia (around Red River basin) |
| Type | Freshwater fish |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern (by the IUCN) |
| Behavioral Characteristics | Hardy, friendly, peaceful |
| School Size | 5 – 6 (however, they often enter into a tiff with each other regarding their pecking order.) |
| Physical Traits | Highly arched back, short barbell near their mouth corners and upper jaws, and vertical blotches or bars to the side of their body |
| Colors | Golden body; reddish-brown back; metallic or yellowish-green sides; whitish belly transforming to orange-red in the male fish during mating |
| Size (How big do they get) | About 3,5 cm (1.4 inches) though some may grow to 7 cm (2.8 inches) |
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | 4 – 6 years |
| Sexual Dimorphism | The females are larger and duller with a more rounded belly |
| Probable Diseases | White spot, fungal, and bacterial infections ` |
| Approximate Price (How much is it for) | $2 – 5 |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Tank Size | 20 gallons (76 liters) |
Water Parameters
| pH Level | 6.0 – 8.0 |
| Temperature | 64° to 75° F (18 to 24°C) |
| Hardness | 10dGH |
| Aquarium Water Flow | Moderate |
Tank Ambience
| Lighting | Dim or subdued |
| Substrate Type | Driftwood, plants and several decors for prospective hiding spots |
| Tank Mates | Compatible with: Tetra, small barbs like tiger barb, danios, gouramis Incompatible with: Bettas, angelfish, sailfin mollies,and other long-finned fish They should even not coexist with shrimps like cherry shrimp since they feed on them |
| Suitable Position in the Tank | Middle or bottom |
Feeding
| Diet | Live foods like worms, and brine shrimp; pellet; flakes; fresh vegetables |
| Frequency | 2 -3 times |
The cherry barbs have a bright red body against the golden color of the gold barb. They are even smaller than the latter. One of the most significant differences is that they don’t school and remain singly, unlike the gold barb.
Thomas Schubert, a hobbyist, developed this fish species during the 1960s through selective breeding.
The albino variant was developed in the United States during the 1970s by Dennis Wilcox. The pink variants appeared in the 1990s, while the tri-color ones, a combination pink, orange, and black, have been recently found.
