TankBud

Ruby-tinted barb

Dawkinsia rubrotincta

Also known as Rubrotincta filament barb, Red tinged barb

FreshwaterFish

Ruby-tinted barb (Dawkinsia rubrotincta)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–79°F
21–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
42 gal
160 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Kaveri basin, southern India

Overview

The ruby-tinted barb is an active, peaceful filament barb that lives in shoals. It suits a roomy river-style tank and a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The ruby-tinted barb looks like one of the recently described Western Ghats filament barbs, but it has carried a scientific name since 1849. Jerdon first recorded it from the Kaveri that year, and only its modern genus, Dawkinsia, is new.

Caring for the ruby-tinted barb

Keep ruby-tinted barbs in a group of six or more. In numbers the males display to one another, and the group settles rather than chasing. They are strong swimmers of the middle water and are in constant motion, so length matters more than fancy planting. A tank of 42 gal (160 L) gives a small group real room to move.

Set up a river-style tank with brisk current, a sand or gravel bed, water-worn stones and some hardy plants. Keep the water at 70 to 79°F (21 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Ruby-tinted barbs are hearty eaters and take flake, pellets and frozen foods readily, with some greens. They are peaceful and do well with other lively but gentle fish, such as other barbs, larger rasboras and peaceful catfish.

Breeding males grow extended dorsal rays, like their filament-barb relatives. Aquarium spawning is not on record.

Good to know

Dawkinsia rubrotincta belongs to the carp family, Cyprinidae, and was placed in the genus Dawkinsia in 2012. The name rubrotincta means red-tinted, for the ruby wash that spreads through the fins and flank of mature fish. It is also called the rubrotincta filament barb or the red tinged barb.

In the wild

The ruby-tinted barb is native to the Kaveri (Cauvery) river system of southern India. It lives in clear, flowing rivers and hill streams over rock and gravel.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The ruby-tinted 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 ruby-tinted barb need?

A ruby-tinted barb needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a ruby-tinted barb need?

A ruby-tinted barb is comfortable at 70–79°F (21–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a ruby-tinted barb eat?

A ruby-tinted barb is a hearty eater. It takes flake, pellets and frozen foods readily, along with some greens.

How big does a ruby-tinted barb get?

An adult ruby-tinted barb reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

Does a ruby-tinted barb need a group?

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

How can you tell a male ruby-tinted barb from a female?

Males grow extended dorsal rays when breeding, like other filament barbs.

Related species