Denison barb care
Sahyadria denisonii · Fast rivers of Kerala and Karnataka, India
Denison barbs have a red line from the snout to mid-body over a black stripe and yellow-black tail spots.
- Tank size
- 55 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 64 to 77 °F (18 to 25 °C)
- Group size
- 6 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 6 in (typically 3.5 to 4.5 in; up to 6 in reported)
- pH
- 6.8 to 7.8
- Hardness (GH)
- 5 to 15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 5 to 8 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 55 gallon
48¼ × 12¾ × 21 in outsideHow to keep Denison barbs
Denison barbs have a red line from the snout to mid-body over a black stripe and yellow-black tail spots. They grow to about 6 inches and need a group in a 55 gallon or larger tank with strong flow, clean water and a lid.
Diet: Omnivore: pellets, flakes, frozen foods, vegetables. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Denison barb tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Bristlenose pleco
6 in · 29+ gal · 73–81 °F
Siamese algae eater
6 in · 29+ gal · 72–80 °F
Giant danio
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–79 °F
Three-spot (blue) gourami
6 in · 29+ gal · 72–82 °F
Rainbow shark
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–80 °F
Red-tail shark
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–79 °F
Black moor
6 in · 30+ gal · 64–74 °F
Vampire shrimp
6 in · 29+ gal · 74–84 °F
Keep apart
Discus: No shared temperature: Denison barbs need 64 to 77 °F, discus 82 to 88 °F.
German blue ram: No shared temperature: Denison barbs need 64 to 77 °F, German blue rams 78 to 85 °F.
Oscar: Oscars are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as Denison barbs.
Pea puffer: Pea puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Convict cichlid: Convict cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as Denison barbs.
Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempseys are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as Denison barbs.
What a Denison barb tank needs
A tank of 55 US gallons or more (such as the 55 gallon) with a tight lid (they jump), and the equipment below. Denison barbs are comfortable at room temperature, so a heater is optional in a normal home.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 200
Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon Denison barb tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Seachem Tidal 55
Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon Denison barb tank without being built for a far bigger one.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding Denison barbs.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 64 to 77 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 55 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common Denison barb problems
- Wild populations are endangered; choose captive-bred fish.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Sahyadria denisonii. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Denison barb Anandarajkumar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bristlenose pleco André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Siamese algae eater aleander2137, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Giant danio Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Three-spot (blue) gourami Peter Jung, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rainbow shark MerlinSenger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Red-tail shark Astellar87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black moor Riyad Youssef, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Vampire shrimp Ray eye, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Discus Patrick Farrelly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- German blue ram Eric Mengel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oscar H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pea puffer Beta Mahatvaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Convict cichlid S. Olkowicz, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Dempsey Sviemeister (English Wikipedia), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cherry barb Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Tiger barb Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rosy barb Kkonstan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Odessa barb Anandarajkumar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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