Coppernose barb
Raiamas christyi
Also known as Christy's trout barb, Opsaridium christyi, Copper nose barb
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F (22–27°C)
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 8.3 in (21 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal (400 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Congo River system
- Family
- Danionidae
Overview
This is a fast African predator built like a trout, so treat it as a specialist fish rather than a community member. Keep it in a small group with large, robust Congo-basin companions, and expect anything small and silvery to be eaten, so tankmate tolerance stays a matter of caution and careful matching. It holds in open midwater, is a hard jumper, and needs a heavy, tight lid over a big tank of at least 400 liters with strong flow. Feed meaty foods, sinking and floating, such as prawn, mussel, earthworm, and large frozen items; it strikes at food like a lure hitting water.
In the wild
The coppernose barb hunts the fast channels and open water of the Congo River system in central Africa. It needs a large, high-flow tank with a long, clear swimming lane, a substrate of sand and smooth stone, and very clean, well-oxygenated water. Keep the water at 22 to 27 degrees Celsius with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.
Good to know
Raiamas christyi is a member of the danio family, Danionidae, reaching around 20 centimeters, trout-shaped with a copper-washed snout and spotted flanks. Boulenger described it in 1920 and named it for Cuthbert Christy, an English physician and explorer of the Congo. Raiamas are Africa's high-speed surface predators among the cyprinids, and this species has no aquarium breeding on record.
Did you know
African anglers take Raiamas on fly tackle meant for trout, and this copper-nosed cyprinid will chase down and hit a streamer as hard as any true gamefish.
Common questions
What size tank does a Coppernose barb need?
A Coppernose barb needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Coppernose barb need?
Coppernose barb are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
How big do Coppernose barb get?
An adult Coppernose barb reaches about 8.3 in (21 cm).
Where to buy
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Appears in
Keeping Coppernose barb?
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