Cuming's barb

Pethia cumingii

Also known as Two-spot barb, Puntius cumingii, Barbus cumingii

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.0
Adult size: 2 in (5 cm)
Minimum tank: 16 gal (60 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Endemic to the Bentota and Gin river basins of southwestern Sri Lanka.
Family: Cyprinidae

Overview

Keep Cuming's barb in a group of at least six to eight in a tank of 60 litres or more, with soft, slightly acidic water at 22 to 27 C and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A shaded tank with plants, leaf litter, and dark substrate brings out the fin color. Feed small flakes, micropellets, and frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm. It is a peaceful schooler that suits a quiet community, though males spar harmlessly for display.

In the wild

Cuming's barb comes from shaded, slow to moderate forest streams in southwestern Sri Lanka. It lives in small shoals among leaf litter and submerged plants in soft, slightly acidic water. Wild fish carry two smudgy dark bars on a silver body, with fin color that ranges from yellow to red depending on population. Habitat loss has made it scarcer in the wild, so most tank fish are captive bred.

Good to know

Long known as Puntius cumingii or Barbus cumingii, the species moved to the genus Pethia in a 2012 revision of the small South Asian barbs. Two natural color forms exist, one with yellow fins and one with red, and both are sold under the same name. It was named after Hugh Cuming, a nineteenth century shell and specimen collector.

Did you know

Males deepen to a strong red or yellow in the fins when they display to each other, and a well conditioned group in a dark tank is one of the more colorful small barbs.