TankBud

Blue spotted hill trout

Barilius bakeri

Also known as Opsarius bakeri, Blue dot barilius, Royal Trout Danio

FreshwaterFish

Blue spotted hill trout (Barilius bakeri)

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–79°F
18–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Top
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Endemic to fast, hilly streams of the Western Ghats in southwestern India.

Overview

The blue spotted hill trout is a fast schooling fish that hunts near the surface of a long, fast-flowing tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The blue spotted hill trout behaves like a miniature trout, hanging in the current and rising to snatch insects from the surface. That habit is where the hill trout name comes from.

Caring for the blue spotted hill trout

Give blue spotted hill trout a long tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), with strong flow and high oxygen. They are fast jumpers, so fit a tight lid. They spend most of their time near the top.

Keep the water cool, clean and moving, at 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Do generous water changes every week. Feed insects, frozen bloodworm and mysis, and sinking pellets.

Keep a group of at least five to spread out their energy. The blue spotted hill trout is a fast, predatory surface hunter rather than a placid community fish. It will eat small fish, so choose tank mates too large to swallow. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

Barilius bakeri is sometimes listed under the genus Opsarius, and the whole group is built for life in swift hill streams. Rows of blue-green spots and bars mark its streamlined, trout-like body.

In the wild

The blue spotted hill trout lives in fast, clear, well-oxygenated streams and rapids of the Western Ghats in southwestern India. It comes from the mid and higher reaches of rivers across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blue spotted hill trout is a mostly peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the top. 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 blue spotted hill trout need?

A blue spotted hill trout needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a blue spotted hill trout need?

A blue spotted hill trout is comfortable at 64–79°F (18–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a blue spotted hill trout eat?

A blue spotted hill trout eats insects, frozen bloodworm and mysis, and sinking pellets. It is a predatory hunter and will also eat small fish.

How big does a blue spotted hill trout get?

An adult blue spotted hill trout reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

Does a blue spotted hill trout need a group?

Yes. A blue spotted hill trout is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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