Mascara Barb (Dawkinsia Assimilis)
Mascara Barbs, Dawkinsia Assimilis, make excellent members of a community aquarium because they are relatively peaceful. Even though these barbs do not nip fins of other fish, they are boisterous, especially the males, when engaging in chases; therefore, you should not keep smaller, more timid species with them.
In the aquarium, Mascara Barbs do best with equally large and active tankmates as they are fast-moving, aggressive feeders. It would be ideal for these Barbs to live with other Cyprinids such as Denison Barbs (found in the wild with Mascara Barbs) and other medium to large-sized Barbs as well as Rainbowfish, Gouramis, and Loaches.
As a natural schooling species, mascara barbs should be kept in groups of eight or more. The more barbs you keep in the aquarium, the less nervous your fish will be and the more natural and effective your display will look. The males will also focus on maintaining their position within the group if they are kept in larger groups, which will restrict aggression between them.
A good aquarium setup for Mascara Barbs would include rocks of varying sizes, pebbles, sand or fine gravel, and perhaps some small boulders as a substrate. Your fish would also benefit from driftwood and hardy aquatic plants such as Anubias or Microsorum.
They are named for their pink blush coloration around their noses and their blue-black lines under their eyes. There is a pear-shaped black spot on the caudal peduncle of these silvery fish. The body also has a curved reddish-pink line that resembles a thin pearl necklace. The majority of their fins are translucent except for their caudal fin, which has red and black tips, and their dorsal fin, which is bright red.
Mascara Barb (Dawkinsia Assimilis) Video
Mascara Barbs - Dawkinsia Assimilis
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dawkinsia Assimilis |
| Year Described | 1849 |
| Other Names | Red Necklace Barb, Assimilis Barb |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Puntius |
| Origins | India |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 8 - 10 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 5 - 15 |
| KH | 1 - 10 |
| TDS | 40 - 70 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 65 - 80℉ 18 - 27℃ | |
Natural Habitat
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Mascara 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
10 interesting tank mate ideas for the Mascara Barb could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
Both sexes will display impressive red colouration as mature adults, making it difficult to distinguish between the male and female Mascara Barbs. Males, however, have a more striking colour pattern and develop vivid red dorsal fins and detailed dorsal filaments. In addition, their heads will be covered with tubercules when they are breeding. Conversely, females tend to grow larger, heavier, and duller as they age.