| The Rosy Barb, Puntius conchonius, is a very easy | | | | Rosy Barb, the Blushing Rosy Barb, and the Gold |
| fish to keep. Sometimes the Common Name is spelt | | | | Neon Rosy Barb. |
| Rosey Barb. Barbus Conchonius is a junior synonym | | | | Breeding |
| of the scientific name. It comes from Assam and | | | | The Rosy Barb is one of the fish that frequently lays |
| Bengal in the Indian Sub Continent. In the wild it can | | | | eggs in a home aquarium without their owner ever |
| grow to about 6 inches (16cm) long, but in an | | | | being aware of it. The eggs will normally get eaten |
| aquarium does not generally get longer than about 4 | | | | long before they hatch, and any that do hatch get |
| inches (10cm). | | | | eaten as tiny babies with their owner never even |
| Water Conditions | | | | seeing them. |
| The Rosy Barb is very flexible in its requirements. A | | | | Male Rosy Barbs have the reddish color that gives |
| pH of between 6.5 and 7.5 suits this fish. Although it | | | | the species its common name while the females are |
| will survive slightly acid water, it seems to prefer | | | | more a yellowish color. |
| slightly alkaline water. | | | | Frequently, hobbyists trying to breed them will use |
| It is not too bothered by water hardness, but seems | | | | trios of two males and one female. The fish need to |
| to like some hardness in the water. | | | | be well conditioned with rich food beforehand. This is |
| It can take temperatures of between 10 degrees C | | | | particularly easy to do with this species because they |
| (50 degrees F) and 32 degrees C (90 degrees F). I | | | | are such good eaters. I find that frozen blood worms |
| would not recommend the extremes of its range, | | | | are a good food. |
| but I have heard of cases where it has been | | | | The breeding tank should have plenty of plants; both |
| successfully kept as a pond fish in Adelaide even in | | | | submerged and floating ones. Neutral pH is probably |
| the winter which suggests it can take even lower | | | | best. The trio is often put into the breeding tank |
| temperatures than 10 degrees C (50 degrees F). This | | | | when it is getting dark and will spawn the following |
| is one of the fish that is happy in ether tropical or | | | | morning, or the second morning. When they have |
| cold water aquariums as long as the conditions are | | | | spawned, the female should be noticeably thinner, |
| not too extreme. | | | | and the parents should be removed. Each female will |
| Food | | | | lay hundreds of eggs. |
| This fish is extremely easy to feed. It will eat | | | | The eggs hatch in 24-48 hours. The babies are fairly |
| practically all types of fish food. It is an omnivore and | | | | small. At first they will eat infusoria or the finest fry |
| will eat soft boiled spinach as well as flake, pelleted, | | | | foods, but they grow quickly and will soon be able to |
| live and frozen foods. In a mixed tank watch the fish | | | | eat bigger food like screened Daphnia. |
| to make sure the Rosy Barbs are not getting all the | | | | Professional breeders will sometimes simply let their |
| food. They eat a lot. Make sure you do not pollute | | | | Rosy Barbs breed naturally in ponds. |
| the aquarium by putting more food than the | | | | Once, to confirm my observation that my rosy barbs |
| aquarium and its filter can handle. | | | | were frequently spawning without any special |
| A good live food for Rosy Barbs is Daphnia. | | | | stimulus being given, I put a few Rosy Barbs into a |
| Companions | | | | type of breeding trap with a perforated bottom so |
| The Rosy Barb is a schooling fish and at least 6 are | | | | that any eggs laid would fall though and hatch in the |
| to be preferred. In a school they are much less likely | | | | aquarium. I got a number of babies this way. |
| to be a problem to other fish. It is a bigger fish than | | | | Growing the Babies |
| many of its common companions as well as being | | | | Baby Rosy barbs are vigorous fish. They eat well and |
| extremely active; naturally it can sometimes cause | | | | can grow very fast, but it is necessary to give them |
| problems. | | | | enough space and keep the water quality high. I |
| Some suitable companions are: ParaguayTetras, | | | | suggest more partial water changes than are usually |
| PristellaTetras, Buenos Aires Tetras, Colombian | | | | done. |
| Tetras, Rummy Nose Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, | | | | They will be able to eat screened Daphnia quite |
| Scissortail Rasboras, Lemon Tetras, Black Widow | | | | quickly. The definitely benefit from Daphnia and other |
| Tetras, Emperor Tetras, Head and Tail Light Tetras, | | | | suitable sized live food. |
| Glass Bloodfin Tetras, Swordtails, Platies, Mollies, | | | | Feeder Fish |
| Zebra Danios, Glowlight Tetras, and White Cloud | | | | The Rosy barb is one of the many fish sometimes |
| Mountain Minnows, as well as the Corydoras catfish | | | | used as feeder fish. From the point of view of |
| like the Peppered Catfish. | | | | people selling them they have some advantages for |
| Some fish I would definitly not recommend as | | | | this. They are easy to breed, easy to grow, and the |
| companions for this fish are: Siamese Fighting Fish, | | | | males sell better than the females, so if they can |
| Guppies and Endlers Guppies. | | | | separate many of the males early on they can get |
| Some small Fish like Neon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras | | | | something for the young females. |
| may be all right while the Rosy Barbs are small, but | | | | Personally, I think that feeder fish are often used |
| whatever sort of fish you put together, you need to | | | | when it is not necessary, although I recognize that |
| be guided by the sizes on the individuals as well as | | | | there are cases where there is little alternative. In our |
| the species. | | | | shop, we do not sell any fish designated as feeder |
| Varieties | | | | fish, but I am well aware that some of the small |
| There are several varieties of Rosy Barb including the | | | | Rosy Barbs we sell cheaply are fed to other things. |
| Neon Rosy Barb, the Long Fin Rosy Barb, Red Glass | | | | |