Clown barb
Barbodes dunckeri
Also known as Bigspot barb, Big spot barb, Duncker's barb, Puntius dunckeri, Barbus dunckeri
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Endemic to clear streams and acidic swamps of the Malay Peninsula.
Overview
The clown barb is a colorful, larger barb for a warm, soft-water community tank. It is a straightforward fish to keep.
Did you know
Almost every clown barb sold in shops is really Barbodes dunckeri. The true Barbodes everetti from Borneo, which the name belongs to, is rarely seen in the trade at all.
Caring for the clown barb
Give a group of clown barbs a tank of 53 gal (200 L) or more, since they are active swimmers. Warm, soft, slightly acidic water suits them best, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Feed flakes, pellets, vegetables and frozen foods, and expect them to nibble soft plants. Keep at least six together. They can be pushy, so keep them with other robust, similarly sized peaceful fish rather than small nano species.
Adults show a rosy flush that is brightest in mature males. Breeding clown barbs is hard.
Good to know
Barbodes dunckeri was moved from Puntius into the genus Barbodes. The bold dark blotches on its flank give it another name, the bigspot barb.
In the wild
The clown barb comes from clear jungle streams and soft, acidic swamps of the Malay Peninsula. It shoals in the middle and lower water in warm, soft blackwater.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The clown barb is a mostly peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Blue acara
Andinoacara pulcher
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Peppered cory
Hoplisoma paleatum
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Forest halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Green turushuki catfish
Hemidoras morrisi
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a clown barb need?
A clown barb needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a clown barb need?
A clown barb is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.
What does a clown barb eat?
A clown barb eats flakes, pellets, vegetables and frozen foods. It will also nibble soft plants.
How big does a clown barb get?
An adult clown barb reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Does a clown barb need a group?
Yes. A clown barb is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male clown barb from a female?
Males show the brightest rosy flush once they are mature.
Related species
5.9 in (15 cm)74 gal (280 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Spanner barb
Barbodes lateristriga
5.9 in (15 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)63 gal (240 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Spotted barb
Barbodes binotatus
5.9 in (15 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)40 gal (150 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)Everett's barb
Barbodes everetti
4.7 in (12 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)Gold barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Bunau barb
Barbodes bunau
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)Beijiang barb
Acrossocheilus beijiangensis
5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)