The spotted barb or common barb (Puntius binotatus) is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Cyprininae sub-family of the (Cyprinidae) family. It originates in Asia, in Myanmar and the Mekong of Thailand through Indonesia. It has also become established as an exotic species in Palau. It was originally described as Barbus binotatus by Achille Valenciennes in 1842, and has also been referred to in scientific literature as Systomus binotatus, Capoeta binotata, and Barbodes binotatus.

Physical description

Its color in life varies from a silvery gray to greenish gray, darker dorsally and paler or nearly white on its throat and belly. It has a bar behind the operculum on its shoulder. On large fish, body markings (spots or band) may be absent, except for the spot on the caudal base. It has a round, broad-tipped snout equal to or slightly larger than the eye. The fish will grow in length up to 7.75 inches (20.0 cm).

Habitat

Its native environment occurs from about sea level to above 2,000 m above sea level. It is commonly found below waterfalls in isolated mountain streams and on small islands inhabited by few other freshwater fish. It inhabits medium to large rivers, stagnant water bodies including sluggish-flowing canals and brooks of the middle Mekong. It is usually found in the middle to bottom depths of fairly shallow waters where it feeds on zooplankton, insect larvae and some vascular plants. They live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.0 - 6.5 pH, a water hardness of 12.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 75 - 79 °F (24 - 26 °C).

Importance to humans

The spotted barb is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade and of minor importance in the fisheries industry.

Reproduction

An open water, substrate egg-scatter, the adult barbs will spawn around dawn.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

References

• Spotted barb on FishBase