Breeding Denison's Barb (Puntius Denisonii) In The Aquarium

Location

This fish is the endemic species and it lives in southern India. It occurs in 9 rivers in state Kerala. This is the endangered species. Its habitat is in oxygen-rich waters, sandy, stony or silty bottom, with many riverside plants.

Body description

Body of the fish is elongated with gray-olive colour. There are black stripes on the sides of the body (one on each side) at the height of the lateral line. These stripes intersecting the mouth, eyes, until base of the tail. There are also red stripes on the sides of the body (one on each side), over the black stripe. It ends in the middle of the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin has red border on the first rays. The caudal fin is forked and it has a black external rays with black-yellow tips. Females are a bit larger, less colorful, and thicker in the ventral parts.

Temperament and behaviour

This is a medium aggressive species. It is more aggressive in small groups. Young fish live in shoal and older fish prefer to live alone. This is an active and fast swimming species. It nicely coexists with other barbs, danios, rainbowfish, discus, corydoras, and fish of the family Loricariidae and Characidae.

Aquarium decoration

These fish likes a spacious and long tanks. Aquarium should include many plants at the back and on the sides, decorative elements, rocks, stones, roots, soft substrate (sand or fine gravel), free spaces to swim. Water flow should be intensive. Water should be oxygen-rich and partial water changes should be made regularly (about 30% once a week). Fish are sensitive to sudden drops of temperature and pH.

Breeding

This is an oviparous fish but it is difficult to breed them in the aquarium. This fish spawn during the monsoon rains season. You can stimulate fish to spawn through bigger partial water changes (50-70%) on few degrees cooler water. Breeding should be done in a separate tank with soft water, pH=5.5-6.0, soft and fine-leaved plants. Fish usually breed in the group.