Clown Barb

Barbodes everetti

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 64–82°F (18–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.0
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 40 gal (150 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Borneo
Family: Cyprinidae

Overview

These are active shoaling fish, so keep at least six together to settle them and cut down on nipping. Their size and energy mean a tank of around 150 liters or more with plenty of open water. They are generally peaceful but busy, and they eat just about anything, so feed a varied mix of flake, pellets, and the occasional live or frozen treat. Plant matter is part of their natural diet, so the odd vegetable or algae-based food helps too.

In the wild

Clown barbs come from rivers and streams in Borneo, moving through soft, slightly acidic to neutral water over sand and rock with wood and leaf litter around. They like a bit of room to cruise, so give them a long tank with open swimming space and some planted edges. Water in the low to upper 20s C suits them, and they tolerate a fairly wide range.

Good to know

Barbodes everetti is in the family Cyprinidae. It is a large barb, reaching about 12 cm, with an orange body marked by dark blotches. Like most barbs, it is an egg scatterer that gives no parental care, dropping eggs among plants and then ignoring them.

Did you know

They get their best color and behavior in a group, and a tight shoal will move and feed together across the tank. Kept alone or in twos, they tend to get nervous and may pick at fins out of stress.