Denison Barb (Sahyadria denisonii)
The Denison Barb, also known as the Torpedo Barb, is a beautiful looking, very active fish that makes an excellent addition to any tank. These fish are best maintained in large groups. However, due to its size, a large aquarium is recommended.
The Denison Barb has a long torpedo-shaped body and is typically silver in colour with a yellowy-gold tint that appears once mature. It displays a black line that runs from the snout to the caudal fin and is contrasted by an adjacent red line running from the nose through the eye and fades away at the fish's midsection.
The dorsal fin is edged in vibrant red, while the caudal fins exhibit prominent black and yellow stripes. You can find the striping detail on the tips of both forked ends. There is also a rarer gold morph of the Denison Barb, which have been line bred for the fishkeeping hobby, and the rare Janthochir Barb is often confused as a colour morph of the Denison Barb when in fact, it is unrelated.
This fish's popularity resulted in intense overfishing of the wild stock, pushing them into becoming endangered. Thankfully, they are now captively bread, which has taken the pressure off of the wild population and reduced the hobby's selling price.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sahyadria denisonii |
| Other Names | Redline Barb, Red-line Torpedo Barb, Roseline Shark, Roseline Torpedo Shark, Torpedo Barb, Denisonii, Denisonii Barb, Denison's Flying fox, Puntius denisonii |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Sahyadria |
| Origins | West India |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom - Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 4-5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.8 - 7.8 |
| GH | 5 - 25 |
| KH | 4 - 10 |
| TDS | 50 - 140 |
| Temperature | |
| 65 - 80℉ 18 - 27℃ | |
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Denison Barbs
Natural Habitat
The Denison Barb is endemic to Western India, mainly in the rivers Chalakkudipuzha, Chaliar, and Kallada.
Shoals of these fish are known to occur in clear, fast-flowing, highly oxygenated water bodies such as rocky pools with plenty of vegetation along their banks.
Denison barbs are now captively mass bread and are readily found throughout local fish shops around the world.
Other Barbs of interest
What to feed the Denison Barb
In the wild, the Denison Barb feeds mainly on insects and water crustaceans. They also consume algae and plant matter.
In the home aquarium, these Barbs will eat anything from high-quality flake, granule and pellet food to live and frozen fares such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp as well as vegetable matter such as blanched broccoli and spinach.
Feeding these Barbs several times a day regularly with a mixed diet will ensure your fish remain in the best health and keep them vibrantly coloured.
How to Sex the Denison Barb
The male and female Denison Barb are very similar in appearance and colour, making it challenging to differentiate their gender when they are young. However, sexually mature females tend to be more firm and rounder bellied than noticeably slimmer males.
How to Breed the Denison Barb
There is currently very little information or recommendations on breeding this beautiful species of the Barb in your home aquarium.
There have been some anecdotal reports from some hobbyists of accidental breeding instances. However, so far, there is no clear documentation on replicating this without hormone treatments currently used in the fish farm environment.
Frquently asked questions about the Denison Barb
Are Denison Barbs an aggressive species?
How big can Denison Barbs get?
How can you tell if your Denison Barb is male or female?
What should I feed my Denison Barbs?
What size aquarium will I need for my Denison Barbs?
Ideally, the aquarium should be a rectangular shape to maximize their swimming space, and you'll need a tight-fitting lid, as these fish can and will jump.