Checker barb
| Checker barb | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Genus: | Puntius |
| Species: | P. oligolepis |
| Binomial name | |
| Puntius oligolepis (Bleeker, 1853) |
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| Nations where Puntius oligolepis can be found | |
| Synonyms | |
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Barbus oligolepis (Bleeker, 1853, non Battalgil, 1941) |
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The checker barb (Puntius oligolepis), checkerboard barb, checkered barb, or island barb is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). It is native to creeks, rivers, and lakes in Sumatra, Indonesia.
The name checker barb comes from the black marks on its side similar in appearance to those found on a checkerboard. The adult males have red fins with black tips. It will grow up to at most 2 inches (5 centimeters).
The checker barb was originally described as Capoeta oligolepis by Pieter Bleeker in 1853. It was also referred to as Barbus oligolepis by many authors, though it does not belong in the genus Barbus and B. oligolepis properly refers to a different fish species that is only found in Turkey.
[edit] Habitat
Checker barbs natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a pH of 6.0 - 6.5, a water hardness of 10.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 68–75 °F (20–24 °C). Their omnivorous diet consists of small worms, crustaceans, insects, and plants.
An egg-scattering fish, they spawn early in the morning on plants that are the center of the male's territory. Once the spawning is completed, the pair will attempt to eat the eggs that they can find.
[edit] In the aquarium
The checker barb has commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry; this peaceful fish is sometimes used in community tanks by fish keeping hobbyists. The checker barb is a schooling fish that is well suited to a community aquarium. It requires warm(75-77 degrees F), soft to medium-hard water. It occupies the medium to lower levels of the aquarium and is an omnivore, doing well on processed foods. The checker barb is a prolific egg-scatterer that lends itself well to the novice breeder.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- "Barbus oligolepis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=163646. Retrieved April 28, 2004.
- Lambert, Derek J (1997). Freshwater Aquarium Fish. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books. pp. 15. ISBN 0-7858-0867-1.
- Checker barb on FishBase.
