Manipur barb
Pethia manipurensis
Also known as Puntius manipurensis, Red jasper barb
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–77°F (20–25°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.2
- Adult size
- 1.8 in (4.5 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal (54 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Manipur, northeast India
- Family
- Cyprinidae
Overview
The Manipur barb is a small, peaceful schooling fish, so keep a group of at least eight in the middle water, where a good shoal looks its best and the fish stay confident. It suits a cooler nano or hill-stream community with small danios and other gentle species. Its mouth is small, so feed fine flake, micro pellets, and small frozen foods such as daphnia and cyclops. A well-planted tank of around 54 liters, ideally on the cool side, houses a group comfortably.
In the wild
This dwarf barb comes from the upland waters of Manipur in northeast India, including the country around Loktak Lake. Recreate its home with a planted tank, a soft substrate, driftwood, and gentle current. It prefers cooler water than most tropicals, 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH from 6.0 to 7.2. Steady, clean, moderately soft water keeps it healthy.
Good to know
Pethia manipurensis is a small member of the carp family, Cyprinidae, reaching only about 4.5 centimeters, a copper-toned dwarf barb with a deep-keeled body from India's eastern hills. The genus Pethia gathers many of the smaller South Asian barbs once lumped into Puntius. Its aquarium breeding is not documented, though its relatives are typically egg-scattering spawners.
Did you know
Its home, Loktak Lake, is famous for its phumdis: floating mats of matted vegetation thick enough to carry huts and even a national park, with fish communities living in the water beneath them.
Tank mates
Manipur barb is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Arnold's killifish
Fundulopanchax arnoldiFreshwater3 in (7.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Pridi loach
Schistura pridiiFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Yellow fin rhinogobius
Rhinogobius leavelliFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Infrafasciatus killifish
Epiplatys infrafasciatusFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Assam banded loach
Neonoemacheilus assamensisFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Tweedie's hillstream loach
Homalopteroides tweedieiFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Manipur barb need?
A Manipur barb needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Manipur barb need?
Manipur barb are comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.
How big do Manipur barb get?
An adult Manipur barb reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).
Do Manipur barb need a group?
Yes. Manipur barb are a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Barbs, danios & rasboras · Schooling fish · Community fish
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Odessa Barb
Pethia padamyaFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)61–77°F (16–25°C)Narayan barb
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Pethia tiantianFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Bandula barb
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Stoliczka's barb
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