TankBud

Drape-fin barb

Oreichthys crenuchoides

FreshwaterFish

Drape-fin barb (Oreichthys crenuchoides)
-serwacy01- · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Tributaries of the Brahmaputra River, West Bengal, eastern India (and possibly Nepal)

Overview

The drape-fin barb is a small, peaceful schooling barb for a heavily planted community tank. It suits a keeper past the beginner stage.

Did you know

A male drape-fin barb can spread his dorsal fin until it looks nearly as tall as his body is long. He flares that drape at rivals, so a group with several males puts on far more display than a single fish ever will.

Caring for the drape-fin barb

Keep drape-fin barbs in a group of eight or more, in a tank of at least 14 gal (54 L). Small groups or cramped tanks make them withdraw, and dominant males then bully the rest without a break.

Plant the tank heavily, with floating plants for shade and a layer of dried leaf litter on the bottom. Lots of plants and decor to block sightlines break up tension, and the shy adults do best with plenty of cover. Use soft sand or a fine substrate, since they forage along the bottom.

Keep the water near neutral and moderately soft to moderately hard. Hold it at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Go gentle on filtration and flow, since they react badly to swings in water quality. Do small, frequent water changes rather than large ones.

Feed small foods such as micro pellets, crushed flakes, and frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Drape-fin barbs are peaceful and swim in the middle of the tank. Keep tank mates calm and small, such as micro-rasboras, small tetras and kuhli loaches. Skip anything boisterous or large that will intimidate them.

Only the males grow the tall dorsal fin, and they raise it as a flag when sparring or courting. Drape-fin barbs scatter their eggs and give no parental care. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The drape-fin barb, Oreichthys crenuchoides, is a small barb in the family Cyprinidae. The drape in its name is the males' sail-like dorsal fin.

In the wild

Drape-fin barbs come from clear, plant-filled tributaries of the Brahmaputra River in West Bengal, eastern India, and possibly Nepal. They forage along the bottom with tiny sensory bristles on the lower jaw.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The drape-fin 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 drape-fin barb need?

A drape-fin barb needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a drape-fin barb need?

A drape-fin barb is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a drape-fin barb eat?

A drape-fin barb eats small foods such as micro pellets and crushed flakes. Frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp suit it as well.

How big does a drape-fin barb get?

An adult drape-fin barb reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Does a drape-fin barb need a group?

Yes. A drape-fin barb is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male drape-fin barb from a female?

Males grow the tall dorsal fin, which females lack. They raise it as a flag when sparring or courting.

How does a drape-fin barb breed?

Drape-fin barbs scatter their eggs and give no parental care. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.

Related species