TankBud

Threespot barb

Enteromius trispilos

Also known as Barbus trispilos

FreshwaterFish

Threespot barb (Enteromius trispilos)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
24 gal
90 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
West Africa from Ivory Coast to Ghana

Overview

The threespot barb is a peaceful schooling barb from West Africa for the middle water of a planted tank. It is an easy fish to keep.

Did you know

The threespot barb's name is a built-in field mark. Every fish carries three evenly spaced dark dots down the side. Counting the spots is the simplest way to put a name to this small West African barb.

Caring for the threespot barb

Keep threespot barbs in a group of six or more, so they stay confident and active in the open. A tank of 24 gal (90 L) or more gives a group of these lively barbs plenty of room. Plant the sides and keep a clear channel for swimming through the middle water. Soft substrate, wood, leaf litter and gentle to moderate flow show the fish off well.

Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. The threespot barb is hardy and adaptable, but clean, softly acidic water suits it best. It takes all the standard foods without complaint, such as flake, micro pellets, and small frozen or live foods like daphnia and bloodworm.

The threespot barb is peaceful and unfussy. It makes an undemanding centerpiece for a West African community of other small, gentle fish. Aquarium breeding is not documented for it.

Good to know

The threespot barb, Enteromius trispilos, is a dwarf member of the carp family, Cyprinidae. Its species name, trispilos, means three spots. Bleeker described it in 1863, and it is one of the small African barbs moved from Barbus into the genus Enteromius.

In the wild

The threespot barb lives in forest and savanna streams of West Africa, in the Ivory Coast to Ghana region. The water there is clear to lightly stained and flowing.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The threespot 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 threespot barb need?

A threespot barb needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a threespot barb need?

A threespot barb is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a threespot barb eat?

A threespot barb takes all the standard foods without complaint. Offer flake, micro pellets, and small frozen or live foods such as daphnia and bloodworm.

How big does a threespot barb get?

An adult threespot barb reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Does a threespot barb need a group?

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

Related species