Jeweled baril

Opsarius pulchellus

Also known as Barilius pulchellus, Royal butterfly danio

FreshwaterFish

Jeweled baril (Opsarius pulchellus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Chao Phraya and Mekong basins
Family: Danionidae

Overview

The most colorful baril in this group and a good reason to set up a large tank, kept as a school of six or more where males flash and chase without doing real harm. It is an active, current-loving fish that patrols the midwater, takes food fast, and jumps readily, so give it open length, strong flow, and a tight lid. Suitable companions are other robust, lively river fish rather than small or delicate ones. Feed floating and sinking foods with frozen and small live items such as bloodworm and insect larvae. Around 200 liters of length suits a group.

In the wild

The jeweled baril lives in cool, clear mountain streams of the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins in northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, in flowing, well-oxygenated water. Set up a long river tank with brisk current, a substrate of sand, gravel, and stone, and open swimming space over sparse decor. Hold it at 22 to 27 degrees Celsius with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

Opsarius pulchellus is a danio-family baril, Danionidae, reaching around 13 centimeters and marked with bold green to emerald bars that deepen with the fish's mood. Smith described it in 1931; pulchellus is the diminutive of the Latin for beautiful, chosen for its vivid color. Its spawning is not on record in aquaria.

Did you know

Among a group of plain, trout-like barils, this is the one that dressed up, its green flank bars shifting from bright emerald to deep forest green with its mood; the species name simply means beautiful.

Tank mates

Jeweled baril is a mostly peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.