Purple Headed Barb

The Purple headed Barb is a tiny and active fish. It is known by many common names like Ruby barb and Black Ruby barb. It is an enduring fish which is a good choice for community tank. The life span of Purple headed Barb is expected to be 3-5 years. It grows as long as 6 cms or 2.4 inches. Take good care of this fish and you will have a happy Purple headed Barb in your aquarium. The following account will help you to know more about it.

Geographical distribution

Diet

Feed Purple headed barb on live food, insects, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, plant matter and flakes. Give it vegetables also.

Breeding:

Breeding is quite easy. Water temperature should be kept from 25-28 degree C and pH about 6.0. Spawning occurs near fine leafed plants with the rising of the sun. To make eggs fall out of parents’ reach use marble substrate. Over a period of one and a half to two hours 300-500 eggs are laid. After spawning, parents should be removed from the tank. Until the eggs hatch, they should be kept in dark tank. the young could be fed with infusoria.

Physical Characteristics

Purple headed barb has a high back. The color of its head is deep crimson. Three-four slanting bars mark its flanks. Usually its back is deep copper brown in color. Color of the body depends on sex. Body and caudal fin of males become bright crimson during the spawning season. Color of females is yellowish-orange gray and their caudal finis peach in color. Other fins are black on both the sexes.

Tank Set Up

The tank for Purple headed barb should measure 30 inches or 76 cms. It should hold 75-114 liters 20-30 gallons of water. Floating plants should be present in plenty in the tank. Wood, rocks and roots should be used to form hiding places. The gravel being put in the tank should be of dark color and should be fine in texture. Water it prefers is soft and slightly acidic. Temperature required by it is 20-26 degree C or 68-79 degree F. It needs pH 5.5-7. There should be low level of organic waste in its tank.

Social Behavior

Purple headed barb is a lively, energetic and peaceful fish. It likes to live in schools. You can combine it with other barbs that have vertical stripes. It does well with its tank mates. Recommended companions of Purple headed barb are Acaras, Loaches, Gouramis, Barbs, Danios, Doradids, Eartheaters, Loricarids, Corydoras, Epalzeorhynchus.

Purple headed barb is a playful fish that is not easy to take care of. Keep subdued lightning in its tank and provide ample hiding spaces along with room for swimming. Purple headed barb is a strong tropical fish and is susceptible to pollutants and old water. Therefore, regular water changes are a must in the aquarium of this fish. Be careful to feed it properly and guard it against the conditions which can lead Purple headed barb to diseases and you will have a happy pet fish and if your pet is happy, you will be happy too.