Golden Dwarf Barb (Pethia gelius)
Golden Dwarf Barbs, Pethia gelius make excellent additions to a nano aquarium or a community aquarium of smaller peaceful species. As a result of their small size and timid nature, these Barbs are not suitable for the general community aquarium. It is likely that they will be seen as a snack or will be outcompeted for food by larger, more boisterous fish.
Other miniature species such as micro Rasboras, Danios, Dwarf Loaches, and Dwarf Shrimp make perfect tankmates for Golden Dwarf Barbs. Since these Barbs are naturally schooling species, you should keep them in groups of at least eight. The more fish you maintain, the more comfortable your fish will be and the more natural your display will look. While competing for the female's attention, the males will also display their best colours and some exciting behaviours.
A heavily planted aquarium would be ideal for these Barbs, with some floating plants and driftwood roots or branches, which will diffuse the light. As these Barbs come from very slow to still waters, the aquarium will not need much filtration or water flow as they may struggle if the current is too fast. These Barbs are sensitive to changes in water chemistry, so you shouldn't add them to an aquarium that is not biologically mature.
The bodies of Golden Dwarf Barbs are pale yellow with faint black stripes along their lateral line. There are also three black blotches on the bodies of these Barbs. First, there is a blotch behind the opercle, followed by a blotch below the dorsal fin, and a third blotch just above the anal fin. In addition to their bright yellow anal, dorsal and pelvic fins, these Barbs also have a black spot on their dorsal fin.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pethia gelius |
| Year Described | 2013 |
| Other Names | Golden Barb |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Pethia |
| Origins | Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 4 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 5.5 - 6.5 |
| GH | 8 - 15 |
| TDS | 18 - 179 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 68 - 77℉ 20 - 25℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Golden Dwarf Barb will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Tank Mates
4 interesting tank mate ideas for the Golden Dwarf Barb could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
Male and female Golden Dwarf Barbs are relatively easy to distinguish. The males tend to be slimmer, smaller, and more intensely coloured than the females. The females, on the other hand, are often slightly larger, noticeably rounder-bellied, and less colourful than the males.