Jae barb

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep jae barbs in a group of at least eight to ten in a mature tank of 60 litres or more, with soft, acidic water at 20 to 25 C and a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Leaf litter, gentle flow, and dim light help the males color up and settle. Feed small foods such as micropellets, crushed flake, and frozen or live daphnia, cyclops, and baby brine shrimp. It is a gentle schooler for a soft-water community with other small, calm species.

In the wild

The jae barb is a tiny African barb from shaded, soft, acidic rainforest streams and pools in Cameroon and nearby countries. It shoals at mid depth and near the bottom among leaf litter and roots in dim, tea-colored water. Males flush a deep brick red when settled and in good condition. It is a shy, peaceful dwarf that shows best in a quiet blackwater tank.

Good to know

Long known as Barbus jae, the species now sits in the African barb genus Enteromius, which covers most small African barbs. It reaches only about 4 cm and comes from the same rainforest waters as many killifish. The strong red color of conditioned males is the main reason it is collected for the hobby.

Did you know

A group of jae barbs looks plain in a bright shop tank but turns deep red and confident once settled in a shaded blackwater tank, which catches many keepers by surprise.

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