TankBud

Redline torpedo barb

Sahyadria denisonii

Also known as Denison barb, Roseline Shark, Denison's barb

FreshwaterFish

Redline torpedo barb (Sahyadria denisonii)
NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
59–77°F
15–25°C
pH
6.8–7.8
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
India

Overview

The redline torpedo barb is a peaceful but very active schooling fish for a long, cool community tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The redline torpedo barb's red stripe deepens with age and a good diet. The brightest fish you see are usually mature, well-kept adults rather than young ones at the shop.

Caring for the redline torpedo barb

Keep redline torpedo barbs in a group of at least six, in a long tank of 53 gal (200 L) or more. They are very active and need the swimming room. Give them open swimming lanes over a rocky layout, with strong flow and good oxygen.

Redline torpedo barbs handle a wide range of temperatures but prefer the cooler end, not tropical warmth. Keep the water at 59 to 77°F (15 to 25°C) and a pH of 6.8 to 7.8.

Feed a varied diet of quality flake or pellets, with frozen foods and the occasional vegetable food. They are peaceful and hold the middle water. They stay calmer and more colorful in a proper group. Pair them with other active, cool-tolerant species rather than slow or delicate fish.

Breeding them in captivity is possible but tricky. Farms usually need hormones to spawn them.

Good to know

The redline torpedo barb is a carp relative in the family Cyprinidae, also known as the Denison barb and the roseline shark. Its silver body carries a black and red stripe down the side. Heavy demand from the aquarium trade pushed wild stocks down fast after it became popular, and it is considered threatened in its native range. Most fish sold now come from commercial farms.

In the wild

Redline torpedo barbs come from fast, cool hill streams in the Western Ghats of India. The water flows over rock and gravel, with high oxygen and a steady current.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The redline torpedo 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 redline torpedo barb need?

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

What temperature and pH does a redline torpedo barb need?

A redline torpedo barb is comfortable at 59–77°F (15–25°C) with a pH of 6.8–7.8.

What does a redline torpedo barb eat?

A redline torpedo barb eats a varied diet of quality flake or pellets. Add frozen foods and the occasional vegetable food.

How big does a redline torpedo barb get?

An adult redline torpedo barb reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does a redline torpedo barb need a group?

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

How does a redline torpedo barb breed?

Redline torpedo barbs can be bred in captivity, but it is tricky. Farms usually need hormones to spawn them.

Related species