Rosy Barb

Rosy Barb is a lively fish and its activities are fun to watch. This fish is colorful and enduring. It has proved to be a good tank mate. It grows to the size of 6 inches or 15 cms. Its scientific name is Pontius Conchonius or Barbus Conchonius. Its common name other than Rosy barb is Red barb. If you have the desire to have it as your pet and you are eager to gain more information about it, then go through the following piece of writing.

Geographical Distribution

Rosy barb is found in fast moving rivers and streams as well as ponds and backwater in northern India, Bengal, and Assam.

Diet

Rosy barb is an omnivorous fish. It eats all types of flake and live foods. Feed it with a good quality flake food everyday to keep balance. It relishes bloodworms and brine shrimp whether the latter is frozen or live.

Breeding

Early morning is the time when spawning occurs. Male circles and chases the female. Spawning lasts for many hours which results in several hundred eggs. Usually eggs are deposited in a group of plants. Be careful now because if the pair is able to locate the eggs, it will eat them. In 24 to 36 hours, young ones hatch which depends on temperature of water. After a day, the young fish will hang on the plants and/or sides of the tank. This happens if breeding takes place in a tank. After about six days, young start swimming freely and seek for food. You can feed them with recently hatched brine shrimp.

Physical Description

Rosy barb has a pinkish color body with fairly a greenish cast. Males are more reddish in color, especially on the underbelly and sides. Just in front of caudal peduncle there is a black spot. Color of males turn to a deep rosy red or a purplish red, and the fins get pink and black during spawning season. Males are not as plump as female.

Tank Set Up

Tank of Rosy Barb should hold a minimum of 20 gallons of water. Temperature required by this fish is 18 degree C to 2 degree C or 64 degree F to 72 degree F, pH required is 6.5-7.0 and hardness should be up to 10 dGH. It swims in all areas of aquarium. To keep it happy, try to imitate its natural habitat in its tank. Plant ample aquatic plants but not soft leaved ones as they can be destroyed by excessive nibbling by this fish. Select hardy plant species such as Java moss that can stand the nibbling attacks of Rosy barb.

Social Behavior

Regarding its social behavior, it is an active and peaceful fish and also vivacious and fun to watch. It makes an excellent community fish but at times, though rarely, it can nip the fins of its tank mates. It does well when kept in a group of 4-6 fishes of its own kind. The tank mates that are active and like cool water are best to be kept with it.

Rosy Barb is an undemanding fish and a prolific breeder. Its life span is of five years. This fish has been developed in numerous varieties or color morphs. It is a schooling fish and males behave in a fascinating manner when kept in schools. Rosy barb is active as well as good jumper, so be careful to cover your aquarium properly. Take good care of this fish and enjoy having it as your pet.