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Blackspot dwarf barb

Enteromius stigmatopygus

Also known as Barbus stigmatopygus, Speckled barb

FreshwaterFish

Blackspot dwarf barb (Enteromius stigmatopygus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Chad and Central African Republic drainages

Overview

The blackspot dwarf barb is a tiny African barb that schools in the middle of a planted nano tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The blackspot dwarf barb's scientific name, stigmatopygus, singles out the one obvious feature it carries, a dark mark near the base of the tail.

Caring for the blackspot dwarf barb

Keep blackspot dwarf barbs in a group of eight or more, in a tank of 11 gal (40 L) or larger. Small schooling fish like these are timid, and they only relax and color up in numbers. A densely planted tank with some shade, cover and a dark substrate suits a group.

Keep the water clean and stable, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C). They take a wide, forgiving pH range of 6.0 to 7.5, and gentle filtration and flow suit them. Feed small foods they can manage, such as finely crushed flake and micro pellets. Add small frozen or live foods like baby brine shrimp and cyclops.

The blackspot dwarf barb is thoroughly peaceful and swims in the middle of the tank. Keep it in a quiet nano community with other tiny, gentle species. It has no aquarium breeding records, though its relatives scatter eggs.

Good to know

Enteromius stigmatopygus is a small barb in the family Cyprinidae. It is one of many small African barbs once lumped into the genus Barbus and now placed in Enteromius.

In the wild

The blackspot dwarf barb lives in savanna streams and pools of north-central Africa, including the Chad basin. The water there is typically soft, warm and slow moving.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blackspot dwarf barb is a 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a blackspot dwarf barb need?

A blackspot dwarf barb needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a blackspot dwarf barb need?

A blackspot dwarf barb is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a blackspot dwarf barb eat?

A blackspot dwarf barb eats small foods it can manage, such as finely crushed flake and micro pellets. It also takes small frozen or live foods like baby brine shrimp and cyclops.

How big does a blackspot dwarf barb get?

An adult blackspot dwarf barb reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

Does a blackspot dwarf barb need a group?

Yes. A blackspot dwarf barb is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a blackspot dwarf barb breed?

The blackspot dwarf barb has no recorded breeding in aquariums. Its relatives scatter their eggs.

Related species