Barbs: Complete A-Z Species Directory

Barbs are some of the most active, colorful, and personality-packed freshwater fish you can keep. These members of the family Cyprinidae (and its recent offshoots) range from the tiny Golden Dwarf Barb at just over an inch to the massive Tinfoil Barb that can reach over a foot in length. The group spans dozens of genera across South and Southeast Asia, with a few species native to Africa.

Whether you are looking for a bold centerpiece school like Tiger Barbs or a subtle nano species like the Drape Fin Barb, this A-Z directory covers every barb species we have profiled at Aquarium Store Depot. Click any linked name to read the full care guide, and check back as we continue adding new species.

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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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B

• Black Ruby Barb (Pethia nigrofasciata) — Deep crimson males with dark vertical bars make this Sri Lankan barb a stunning community tank addition. Size: 2.5 inches (6 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 20 gallons
• Butterfly Barb (Barbus hulstaerti) — Rare African nano barb with spotted fins and subtle beauty, a true specialist species from the Congo basin. Size: 1.5 inches (4 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 10 gallons

C

• Checker Barb (Oliotius oligolepis) — Attractive Sumatran barb with a checkerboard-like scale pattern and orange-tipped fins. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 20 gallons
• Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya) — One of the most popular peaceful barbs, males turn a vivid cherry red when in breeding condition. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 25 gallons
• Clown Barb (Barbodes dunckeri) — Large, boldly patterned barb with reddish fins and dark blotches, a showpiece for medium to large planted tanks. Size: 5 inches (13 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 30 gallons
• Cuming’s Barb (Pethia cumingii) — Attractive Sri Lankan species with two dark spots and golden coloring, a peaceful schooler that deserves more attention. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 20 gallons

D

• Denison Barb (Sahyadria denisonii) — Also called Roseline Shark, this striking Indian torpedo-shaped barb has a bold red and black lateral stripe. Size: 6 inches (15 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 55 gallons
• Drape Fin Barb (Oreichthys crenuchoides) — Unique Indian species with an elongated dorsal fin that drapes like a flag, a hidden gem for nano setups. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 15 gallons

F

• Filament Barb (Dawkinsia filamentosa) — Larger Indian barb with dramatic dorsal fin filaments on mature males, an active and hardy community fish. Size: 5 inches (13 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 75 gallons
• Five-Banded Barb (Desmopuntius pentazona) — Small peaceful barb with five vertical black bands on a golden body, sometimes called the Pentazona Barb. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 20 gallons

G

• Gold Barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus) — Hardy golden-yellow barb that thrives in almost any community setup, one of the most beginner-friendly barbs available. Size: 3 inches (8 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 30 gallons
• Golden Dwarf Barb (Pethia gelius) — Tiny semi-transparent barb with golden highlights, one of the smallest barbs available and perfect for planted nano tanks. Size: 1.5 inches (4 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 10 gallons
• Greenstripe Barb (Puntius vittatus) — Subtle but attractive Sri Lankan barb with a green-gold lateral stripe and black spot at the tail base. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 15 gallons

M

• Melon Barb (Haludaria fasciata) — Vibrant Indian barb with bold black bands on a reddish-orange body, also known as the Red Panda Barb. Size: 3.5 inches (9 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 30 gallons

O

• Odessa Barb (Pethia padamya) — Males sport a vivid crimson-red stripe running the length of their body, one of the most colorful barbs in the hobby. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 20 gallons

R

• Rosy Barb (Pethia conchonius) — Classic community barb with rosy pink males, extremely hardy and adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Size: 4 inches (10 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 30 gallons

S

• Sawbwa Barb (Sawbwa resplendens) — Also called the Asian Rummy Nose, this scaleless Myanmar species has a striking red nose and tail tips. Size: 1.5 inches (4 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 10 gallons
• Six-Banded Barb (Desmopuntius hexazona) — Close relative of the Five-Banded Barb with an extra vertical bar, a peaceful and colorful nano schooler. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 20 gallons
• Snakeskin Barb (Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus) — Beautifully marked Borneo native with diamond-shaped dark spots creating a snakeskin-like pattern. Size: 2.5 inches (6 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 20 gallons
• Spanner Barb (Barbodes lateristriga) — Larger barb with bold T-shaped markings, a robust and active swimmer for bigger community tanks. Size: 7 inches (18 cm) | Temperament: Semi-aggressive | Min Tank: 55 gallons
• Stoliczkae’s Barb (Pethia stoliczkana) — Also called the Scarlet Barb, this underappreciated species develops beautiful red coloring in mature males. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 15 gallons
• Striped Barb (Desmopuntius johorensis) — Large Borneo barb with bold horizontal stripes, sometimes called the Zebra Barb. Size: 5 inches (13 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 40 gallons

T

• Ticto Barb (Pethia ticto) — Classic two-spot barb from South Asia, hardy and peaceful with males showing red-tipped fins. Size: 2 inches (5 cm) | Temperament: Peaceful | Min Tank: 15 gallons
• Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) — The iconic barb with bold black stripes on a golden body, famously nippy but manageable in large groups. Size: 3 inches (8 cm) | Temperament: Semi-aggressive | Min Tank: 20 gallons
• Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) — Massive silver barb with red fins that outgrows most home aquariums, needs 125+ gallons. Size: 14 inches (35 cm) | Temperament: Semi-aggressive | Min Tank: 125 gallons

Species Coming Soon

We are actively working on care guides for more barb species. Barb taxonomy has undergone major revision in recent years, with the old catch-all genus Puntius split into over a dozen new genera including Pethia, Dawkinsia, Haludaria, Sahyadria, Desmopuntius, and others. Check back as we continue expanding this directory with detailed care guides for each species.

Recommended Video

Check out this video covering barb species for your aquarium:

References

• Pethia Species List — FishBase
• Puntius Species List — FishBase
• Pethia Genus Overview — Seriously Fish
• Desmopuntius Genus Overview — Seriously Fish
• Barb Articles — Practical Fishkeeping