Jeweled baril
Opsarius pulchellus
Also known as Barilius pulchellus, Royal butterfly danio
FreshwaterFish
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
- Family
- Danionidae
- Origin
- Chao Phraya and Mekong basins
Overview
The jeweled baril is an active, current-loving baril that patrols the middle of a large river tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.
Did you know
Among plain, trout-like barils, the jeweled baril is the one that dressed up. Its green flank bars shift from bright emerald to deep forest green with its mood.
Caring for the jeweled baril
A group of jeweled barils needs a long river tank of 53 gal (200 L) or larger. Give them open swimming length, strong flow and a tight lid, since they jump readily. A substrate of sand, gravel and stone with sparse decor suits them.
Hold the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Feed floating and sinking foods, plus frozen and small live items such as bloodworm and insect larvae. They take food fast.
Keep a school of six or more. Males flash and chase each other without doing real harm, and the species rates as mostly peaceful. Choose other robust, lively river fish as companions rather than small or delicate ones. Their spawning is not on record in aquaria.
Good to know
Opsarius pulchellus is a baril in the danio family, Danionidae. Smith described it in 1931, and pulchellus is the diminutive of the Latin for beautiful, chosen for its vivid color.
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. The water there is flowing and well oxygenated.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The jeweled baril is a mostly 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.
Burmese border loach
Botia histrionica
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Largescale four-eyed fish
Anableps anableps
FreshwaterBrackish11.8 in (30 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Long-fin tetra
Brycinus longipinnis
Freshwater4.9 in (12.5 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Decorated squeaker
Synodontis decorus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Blue spotted hill trout
Barilius bakeri
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Bleher's rainbowfish
Chilatherina bleheri
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a jeweled baril need?
A jeweled baril needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a jeweled baril need?
A jeweled baril is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a jeweled baril eat?
A jeweled baril eats floating and sinking foods, plus frozen and small live items such as bloodworm and insect larvae. It takes food fast.
How big does a jeweled baril get?
An adult jeweled baril reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Does a jeweled baril need a group?
Yes. A jeweled baril is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)Shacra baril
Opsarius shacra
5.5 in (14 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)Barna baril
Opsarius barna
5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Bernatzik's baril
Opsarius bernatziki
4.3 in (11 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)42 gal (160 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Malabar baril
Opsarius malabaricus
4.3 in (11 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.1 in (10.5 cm)42 gal (160 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Fiery baril
Opsarius ardens
4.1 in (10.5 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Gangetic scissortail rasbora
Rasbora rasbora
5.1 in (13 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)