TankBud

Thinlip sharkminnow barb

Labiobarbus leptocheilus

Also known as Thin-lipped apollo barb, Sailfin shark

FreshwaterFish

Thinlip sharkminnow barb (Labiobarbus leptocheilus)
(c) Nasser Halaweh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
8.7 in
22 cm
Minimum tank
66 gal
250 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Mekong through Sundaland

Overview

The thinlip sharkminnow barb is a peaceful, grazing schooler for the middle water of a large community tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The thinlip sharkminnow barb's genus, Labiobarbus, straddles two aquarium worlds at once. Its fish shoal through open water like true barbs, yet graze with the fine lips of a labeo, the group they actually belong to.

Caring for the thinlip sharkminnow barb

Keep several thinlip sharkminnow barbs together in a tank of at least 66 gal (250 L), a sensible floor for a small group. They are active grazers of the middle water and need open swimming room. A roomy layout with current, driftwood, water-worn stone and open water suits their grazing, schooling habits.

Keep the water warm, at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, with good oxygen and strong filtration. They graze algae, biofilm and detritus from wood and stone. Feed a green-leaning diet of algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and quality flake and pellets, plus some frozen foods.

The thinlip sharkminnow barb is gentle and will not bother its tank mates. It suits a big community of other calm, medium to large fish. Aquarium breeding is not recorded.

Good to know

The thinlip sharkminnow barb, Labiobarbus leptocheilus, belongs to the carp family, Cyprinidae. It is silver, with a long-based dorsal fin. Its name refers to its thin, fine lips.

In the wild

The thinlip sharkminnow barb is widespread in Southeast Asia. It ranges from the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Salween basins through the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo, in flowing rivers and floodplains.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The thinlip sharkminnow 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 thinlip sharkminnow barb need?

A thinlip sharkminnow barb needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a thinlip sharkminnow barb need?

A thinlip sharkminnow barb is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a thinlip sharkminnow barb eat?

A thinlip sharkminnow barb grazes algae, biofilm and detritus from wood and stone. Feed it a green-leaning diet of algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and quality flake and pellets, plus some frozen foods.

How big does a thinlip sharkminnow barb get?

An adult thinlip sharkminnow barb reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).

Does a thinlip sharkminnow barb need a group?

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

Related species