TankBud

Mascara barb

Dawkinsia assimilis

FreshwaterFish

Mascara barb (Dawkinsia assimilis)
(c) Rahul Gautam, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
66–77°F
19–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
India

Overview

The mascara barb is a peaceful, active schooling barb for a spacious community tank. It is an easy fish to keep.

Did you know

The mascara barb is named for the dark, smoky markings that spread across the face and around the eyes of breeding males. The males look as if they were wearing eye makeup.

Caring for the mascara barb

Give mascara barbs a roomy tank of 53 gal (200 L) or larger, since this lively barb needs swimming room. Use brisk current and a base of sand and rounded gravel, with water worn boulders and driftwood. Keep planting to the margins so the group has a long, open lane to swim.

Maintain clean, oxygen rich water at 66 to 77°F (19 to 25°C) and a near neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Feed a varied diet of flake, pellets, frozen foods and some vegetable matter to keep their color rich.

Keep a group of at least six, and more if you can. In a good group they look and behave their best, and their energy stays focused within it. They are peaceful, strong swimmers of the open middle water. Their size and pace can overwhelm very small or shy tank mates, so choose active, medium sized companions of similar build.

Mature males grow extended rays on the dorsal fin, like the males of other species in the genus. At their peak they flush red and gold as they display to females. Mascara barbs scatter their eggs and do not guard them, and they can be bred in a dedicated setup with moderate effort.

Good to know

Dawkinsia assimilis belongs to the family Cyprinidae. The genus Dawkinsia was separated from the broad old genus Puntius in 2012 and named for the biologist Richard Dawkins.

In the wild

The mascara barb is native to the fast flowing rivers and streams of the Western Ghats in southern India. It lives in clear, well oxygenated water over rock and gravel.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The mascara 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 mascara barb need?

A mascara barb needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a mascara barb need?

A mascara barb is comfortable at 66–77°F (19–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a mascara barb eat?

A mascara barb eats a varied diet of flake, pellets, frozen foods and some vegetable matter, which keeps its color rich.

How big does a mascara barb get?

An adult mascara barb reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

Does a mascara barb need a group?

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

How can you tell a male mascara barb from a female?

Males grow long, extended rays on the dorsal fin as they mature. At their peak, they flush red and gold as they display to females.

How does a mascara barb breed?

Mascara barbs scatter their eggs and leave them unguarded. They can be bred in a dedicated setup with moderate effort.

Related species