Mascara Barb

Care at a glance

Overview

Mascara barbs are peaceful, active shoaling fish that need a group of at least six, and preferably more, to look and behave their best and to keep their energy focused within the shoal. They are strong swimmers of the open middle water and do well in a spacious community with other medium sized, active species. Their size and pace can overwhelm very small or shy tankmates, so choose companions of similar build. Feed a varied diet of flake, pellets, frozen foods, and some vegetable matter to keep their color rich. A tank around 200 liters or larger provides the swimming room this lively barb requires.

In the wild

This barb is native to the fast flowing rivers and streams of the Western Ghats in southern India, where it lives in clear, well oxygenated water over rock and gravel. It is comfortable in a moderate range of about 19–25 C and a near neutral pH of 6.5–7.5. Provide a roomy tank with brisk current, a base of sand and rounded gravel, and water worn boulders and driftwood. Keep planting to the margins so the shoal has a long, open lane to swim, and maintain clean, oxygen rich water.

Good to know

Dawkinsia assimilis belongs to the family Cyprinidae and reaches about 12 cm. Like others in its genus, mature males grow extended rays on the dorsal fin and develop rich breeding colors. The genus Dawkinsia was separated from the broad old genus Puntius in 2012 and named for the biologist Richard Dawkins. It is an egg scattering, non guarding spawner that can be bred in a dedicated setup with moderate effort.

Did you know

The name mascara barb comes from the dark, smoky markings that spread across the face and around the eyes of breeding males, as if the fish were wearing eye makeup. At their peak these males also flush with red and gold and trail long dorsal fin rays as they display to females.

Related species

• 

  Filament Barb

  Dawkinsia filamentosa

  5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)

• 

  Arulius barb

  Dawkinsia arulius

  3.9 in (10 cm)37 gal (140 L)66–77°F (19–25°C)

• 

  Clown Barb

  Barbodes everetti

  4.7 in (12 cm)40 gal (150 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)

• 

  Spotscale Barb

  Barbus holotaenia

  4.7 in (12 cm)32 gal (120 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
• Striped barb

  Desmopuntius johorensis

  4.7 in (12 cm)40 gal (150 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)

• 

  European minnow

  Phoxinus phoxinus

  5.1 in (13 cm)45 gal (170 L)54–68°F (12–20°C)