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Spotscale barb

Barbus holotaenia

Also known as African Spotscale Barb

FreshwaterFish

Spotscale barb (Barbus holotaenia)
Jonathan (Jon) Armbruster · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
6.0–7.0
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
32 gal
120 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Africa

Overview

Spotscale barbs are peaceful, active shoaling fish that should be kept in a group of at least six, and more if you have room, as a good shoal keeps them settled and out in the open. They swim in the middle water and suit a spacious community with other calm, similarly sized fish that enjoy warm, soft water. They are easy to feed, taking flake, pellets, and frozen or live foods, with some vegetable matter to round out the diet. A larger group keeps their focus on one another rather than on smaller tankmates. A tank around 120 liters or larger keeps an active shoal content.

In the wild

This barb is an African species, native to the warm rivers and streams of the Congo basin and nearby waters in central Africa, where it lives in soft, often tannin stained water. It does best in warm conditions of about 24–30 C and a soft, acidic to neutral pH of 6.0–7.0. Recreate that with a gentle current, a base of sand and fine gravel, and driftwood and leaf litter to soften and shade the water. Some hardy planting and open swimming space complete a comfortable setting for this active fish.

Good to know

Barbus holotaenia is an African member of the family Cyprinidae that reaches around 12 cm. It is a streamlined, silvery barb whose most obvious feature is a dark stripe that runs unbroken along the length of the body from snout to tail. The species name holotaenia refers to that complete band. It is presumed to be an egg scattering, non guarding spawner like its relatives, but there is no established record of it being bred in home aquaria.

Did you know

The scientific name holotaenia comes from words meaning whole band, a reference to the single dark stripe that runs the entire length of the body without a break. That continuous line, rather than the spots the common name suggests, is the easiest way to pick this African barb out from its relatives.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Spotscale 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 Spotscale barb need?

A Spotscale barb needs at least 32 gal (120 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Spotscale barb need?

A Spotscale barb is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.

How big does a Spotscale barb get?

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

Does a Spotscale barb need a group?

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

Related species